Book: Philemon – “prison letters”

Fifteen years ago I read the Old Testament (King James Version) and blogged it as I went. I always meant to keep on trucking, but, well, I didn’t.

Now, in January and February of 2026 I am going to read all 27 books of the New Testament (I have a passing familiarity with the Gospels, thanks to secondary school, and I did read the Book of Revelations at some point (fever dream, innit?)

The plan is to read at most ten pages a day, with rest days more frequent than old “1-in-7” for the Gospels through Romans, but then, because it all gets somewhat shorter, one a day for most of February.

Crucially, am blogging as I go.

Oh, and I am going to read Gore Vidal’s 1992 “Live from Golgotha” as soon as I am done with John…

Summary: 

Paul in chokey.  I prefer Tony Gramsci’s prison letters, but ymmv.

Historical – when written, by whom

The Epistle to Philemon^[a] is a Pauline epistle of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is a prison letter, authored by Paul the Apostle (the opening verse also mentions Timothy), to Philemon, a leader in the Colossian church. Paul does not identify himself as an apostle with authority, but as “a prisoner of Jesus Christ”, calling Timothy “our brother”, and addressing Philemon as “fellow labourer” and “brother” (Philemon 1:1; 1:7; 1:20). Onesimus, a slave who had escaped from his master Philemon, was returning with this epistle wherein Paul asked Philemon to receive him as a “brother beloved” (Philemon 1:9–17). The letter appeals on behalf of Onesimus, who subsequently became a Christian through Paul. Paul requests that Philemon receive Onesimus not as a slave but as a beloved brother in Christ, offering to repay any debt Onesimus owes….

The Epistle to Philemon was composed around AD 57–62 by Paul while in prison at Caesarea Maritima (early date) or more likely from Rome (later date) in conjunction with the composition of Colossians.^[6]

Epistle to Philemon – Wikipedia

Most poetic bits

Xxx

Most quotable bits

1: 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

Most “wtaf” bit(s)

xxx

What it reminds me of (books/plays/jokes etc)

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Further reading

Xx

Chapter 1

1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel

Eh?

1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

“Hey, I’ll take the hit”1: 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;