Which epistle is addressed to a runaway slave's owner?

The Epistle to Philemon is addressed to Philemon, the owner of Onesimus, whom the letter presents as a runaway slave. Paul appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a beloved brother in Christ.

Philemon was a Christian leader whose house hosted a church community, probably in or near Colossae. Paul wrote the short letter while imprisoned, though the exact place—Rome or Caesarea—and date, often placed around AD 57–62, remain debated.

Paul calls Onesimus his child because Onesimus became a Christian through Paul’s ministry. Rather than issuing a direct legal command, Paul uses a personal appeal, offers to repay any debt, and asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul.

The letter is important for its themes of reconciliation, forgiveness, Christian fellowship, and social status. A common mistake is choosing Onesimus because he is the runaway slave; Onesimus is the person at the center of the appeal, not the epistle’s recipient. Some scholars also question whether the traditional runaway-slave reconstruction explains every detail, but Philemon remains the canonical answer.