Philemon

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An epistle in the New Testament written by Paul to a Christian named Philemon regarding a slave ; a man in ancient Greek mythology known for his generous hospitality to disguised gods
2. A short letter in the Christian scriptures addressed to Philemon concerning a runaway servant ; the legendary Phrygian or Bithynian figure who received Zeus and Hermes as guests and was rewarded for his kindness
3. An apostolic epistle found in the New Testament dealing with Philemon's relationship to a converted slave ; a mythological figure celebrated for welcoming divine visitors and achieving immortality through his virtue

Etymology: "Philemon" is a Greek name, and in English it is best known from the New Testament, where it names the man to whom Paul writes his short letter. The name comes from Greek "philḗmōn," meaning "kindly" or "affectionate," which is itself formed from "philéō," "to love." The same "phil-" element appears in words such as "philosophy" and "philanthropy," so the name carries the sense of a loving, friendly disposition. Paul's letter to Philemon asks him to take back a runaway slave, Onesimus, and receive him as a brother, which gives the name a place in one of the most debated short texts of early Christianity. Because the name was used in Greek and Latin for many people over the centuries, it reached English mainly through biblical and classical sources rather than through everyday speech.