Book Written: Baker gives a date of 61 A.D. to 63 A.D. while HC rules out a date earlier than 54 A.D. (see below)
Time Period/Setting: The authorship of this letter is attributed to an imprisoned Paul, but which prison and where is not certain. HC questions Rome as a location, preferring Philippi or Caesarea as more likely. For that reason HC fixes an earlier date to the letter. Paul was writing to a wealthy Colossian, Philomen, whose slave, Onesimus, had run away and come to befriend Paul (in Rome according to Baker), undergo a conversion to Christianity and remain as Paul's friend or servant.
Title: see above
Paul is writing to Philomen to say that, though Onesimus is a valued companion and friend, he is sending Onesimus back to Colossae to his master. Paul urges Philomen to treat Onesimus with respect and kindness and perhaps even grant him his freedom.
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