Philemon 1:1-3·~1 min
Greetings from Paul and Timothy
Paul introduces himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus alongside Timothy and addresses Philemon as a beloved fellow worker, while also including Apphia, Archippus, and the church meeting in the household. He then pronounces grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The paragraph situates the letter within both close friendship and the visible fellowship of the church, showing that the matter to follow concerns more than private sentiment.
P1aul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, 2To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Section summaryPaul and Timothy greet Philemon as a beloved fellow worker and extend that greeting to Apphia, Archippus, and the church meeting in Philemon's house. The blessing of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ sets the letter in the context of shared faith, household fellowship, and ecclesial life. The opening makes clear that this is a personal letter with communal implications.
Role in the chapterThis section establishes the relational and church-centered setting in which Paul's later appeal will be heard.