To understand and shine the theological insights of Philemon, or any biblical writing, it is imperative that, at least, a basic understanding of historical and cultural principles is present in the mind of the reader. Without an understanding of these truths, a false understanding or misrepresentation of the text can occur. This is not to say that nothing can be gained from Scripture in and of itself. However, many deeper details may remain hidden without further exploration. As it is stated in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved before God, a workman who needs no shame, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Virtually all scholars accept the apostle Paul as the author of Philemon. Paul, who before his work as an apostle was formally called Saul, was born in the city of Tarsus, the capital of ancient Cilicia. Tarsus was declared a free city by Rome, thus making Paul a Roman citizen. He was a Jew by blood from the tribe of Benjamin. Paul studied under the teaching and influence of Rabbi Gamaliel and became a Pharisee. As a Pharisee, Paul possessed a strict adherence to the letter of the law and strongly opposed and fought against Christianity. Paul was converted to Christianity by Jesus during a persecution trip to Damascus in 33 AD. After his conversion, Paul became a missionary to the Gentile world. He is believed to have written at least thirteen books of the New Testament before his death in 67-68 AD Philemon is a personal letter from the apostle Paul written around 61 AD while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. It was here in prison that he met Onesimus, a runaway slave from Colossae. Apparently, he had stolen money from his master, Philemon, and fled to R...... middle of paper ...... to face the social acceptance of the institution of slavery, or even threaten the order of society. What this suggests is that Paul wanted to convey the theological principle of unity to the Church by imploring it to perceive all believers as equal despite social classifications. When considering the wide variety of jobs, economic conditions, education, and geographic locations of Christians today, it is beneficial to heed Paul's example of valuing individual believers as co-workers in Christ. the letter to Philemon will help in interpreting the text. The information collected should allow for greater contextual appreciation. With this knowledge in hand, the reader can grasp a deeper understanding of the theological teachings of the book of Philemon.