Philemon 1:1

Paul described himself simply as a prisoner of Jesus Christ’s. He was in prison because he served Christ, and it was God’s will for him to be there (cf. Revelation 1:9).

"As himself the Lord’s bondsman he will plead for another bondsman whose story is the burden of this letter. In begging mercy for this bondsman he points to his own bonds. No less than six times in this brief letter does Paul make reference to his imprisonment (Philemon 1:1; Philemon 1:9-10; Philemon 1:13; Philemon 1:22-23)." [Note: D. Edmond Hiebert, Titus and Philemon, p. 88.]

"He is not asking for a measure of sacrifice from Philemon, as one who knows nothing of sacrifice. He has forfeited his freedom for Christ’s sake and so has a ground for appealing. This is a principle involved in any true pastoral work. The pastor can only appeal to his people for self-sacrifice and discipline if he himself knows the meaning of discipline in his own life. Otherwise his call is empty and lifeless." [Note: Herbert M. Carson, The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and Philemon, p. 104.]

Paul probably did not refer to his apostleship because of the personal nature of the appeal contained in this epistle. Philemon undoubtedly knew Timothy by reputation if not personally. The mention of his name implies that Timothy agreed with Paul concerning what follows in the letter. Philemon’s name does not appear elsewhere in Scripture.