Onesimus

Onesimus was a runaway slave who became a Christian through Paul's ministry and was the subject of Paul's letter to Philemon.

Onesimus was a slave who belonged to Philemon, a Christian from Colossae (Col 4:9). He ran away from his master and, in some way, came into contact with the apostle Paul while Paul was in prison (Phm 1:10). Through Paul's ministry, Onesimus became a Christian and proved to be a valuable companion and helper to Paul (Phm 1:11-13). Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with a personal letter, urging Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ (Phm 1:16-17). Paul also offered to pay any debt that Onesimus might owe to Philemon (Phm 1:18-19). The letter to Philemon is a powerful example of Christian love, forgiveness, and the transforming power of the gospel in human relationships. Onesimus is also mentioned as a faithful and beloved brother in Paul's letter to the Colossians (Col 4:9).

Useful, a slave who, after robbing his master Philemon (q.v.) at Colosse, fled to Rome, where he was converted by the apostle Paul, who sent him back to his master with the epistle which bears his name. In it he beseeches Philemon to receive his slave as a “faithful and beloved brother.” Paul offers to pay to Philemon anything his slave had taken, and to bear the wrong he had done him. He was accompanied on his return by Tychicus, the bearer of the Epistle to the Colossians (Philemon 1:16, 18).

The story of this fugitive Colossian slave is a remarkable evidence of the freedom of access to the prisoner which was granted to all, and “a beautiful illustration both of the character of St. Paul and the transfiguring power and righteous principles of the gospel.”