To err is human; to forgive is divine (Philemon)

Imagine that you were one of the investors who were burned in the Barry Madoff ponzi scheme.  Not only that, you had given Madoff the investments of the church you run.

Now, imagine that Madoff is released from prison early for good behavior.

Barry Madoff comes to you.  He is carrying a letter from the Apostle Paul which states that Madoff is reformed and you should forgive him and accept him as a believer.  It turns out that Madoff met Paul while Paul was in prison and Madoff became a believer.

Ouch!  That is how I imagine a modern day analogy to the context of the Book of Philemon.

Paul's letter refers to a former slave named Onesimus.  The marginalia of the NIV states that the name means "useful".  This would be a good name for a slave.  

The man Philemon seems to be the leader of the church, likely the church of Colosse since the Book of Colossians refers to some of the same names referred to in the Book of Philemon.  

Onesimus brings the letter of introduction to Philemon.  This letter is what we now read as the Book of Philemon.  This opens the possibility that Onesimus also brought Paul's letter to the Colossians with him as well.  But this would be speculation.

We do not find out exactly what Onesimus did to make Philemon angry.  However, it seems like it may have been a financial crime since Paul offers financial restitution to compensate it.  So, putting it all together, I speculate that Onesimus probably stole money from the church that Philemon ran, perhaps to buy his own freedom.

Here, time has passed and Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon.  Paul refers to Onesimus as now being useful to Philemon, which suggests that the forgiveness that Paul asks of Philemon is more useful to Philemon than all the work that Onesimus did as a slave.

We also find out that this was written at a time when Paul was in prison.  Apparently, Onesimus had contact with Paul while he was in prison.  We do not find out exactly how Onesimus and Paul first meet.

Paul also makes a few other requests.  First, that Philemon send Onesimus back to Paul so that he can assist Paul.  Paul wants to respect the former social situation between Onesimus and Philemon and requests Philemon's participation in that.

Second, Paul requests that Philemon make a guest bedroom for him.  Thus, Paul expects to be released from prison.