Paul is in prison, writing to a man named Philemon, a wealthy Christian who lives in the city of Colossae, in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey, who had come to Christ through Paul’s ministry. He is writing about Onesimus, a runaway slave. Onesimus has somehow met Paul, perhaps by being caught and thrown in prison alongside Paul. As a result, Paul has led Onesimus to Christ and now Paul calls Onesimus his “child,” his son. Onesimus is now born again and Paul, who brought him to the new birth, is his spiritual father.