Onesimus: From a Slave to a Brother

Philemon 1:10-12: “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 

[11] Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 

[12] Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 

16] Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 

[17] If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 

[18] If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

In this personal letter, the apostle Paul writes to Philemon, a wealthy Christian from Colossae, around A.D. 62, while he was in prison after his journey to Rome. The letter emphasizes the gospel's transformative power in individual lives and human relationships. It specifically addresses the relationship between Philemon and his runaway slave, Onesimus, whom Paul urges Philemon to welcome back in a new way.

During Paul's ministry in Ephesus from A.D. 52 to 55, Philemon encountered the gospel and became a follower of Christ. He actively served the Colossian Christian community, even opening his home for regular gatherings of believers.

Onesimus, one of Philemon’s bondservants, fled to Rome at some point, possibly taking money or property with him. While in Rome, he encountered Paul and became a Christian. As he grew in his faith, Onesimus became a great help to Paul during his imprisonment.

Although Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him, he understood the need to address Onesimus's past actions. He encouraged Philemon to acknowledge the positive changes in Onesimus and to welcome him back not just as a servant but as a beloved brother in Christ.

Paul's intentions regarding Onesimus's freedom are not entirely clear, but it is evident that he aimed to establish a transformed relationship between bondservant and master. This new dynamic would challenge the deeply ingrained social hierarchies of Greek and Roman culture. The atmosphere of Christian love exemplified in the letter would have made it challenging for the type of servitude practiced in Rome to persist.

In this letter, the central theme is reconciliation. The apostle Paul is facilitating the reconciliation of Onesimus with God and the ongoing process of reconciliation between Onesimus and his master, Philemon. Paul's appeal to Philemon is rooted in the fundamental Christian value of love. The story of Philemon and Onesimus demonstrates that through Christ, forgiveness, and reconciliation can be achieved.

Our prayer for today:

We ask our Heavenly Father that we will follow the example of Philemon, who was willing to forgive, and of Onesimus in his desire and willingness to correct the wrong. It is only through Your love and grace that we can do that. Like Paul, may we also become reconcilers to those affected by strife and misunderstanding instead of causing a rift among people. In Jesus name. Amen!