The early church
A runaway slave who met Paul in prison and was sent home as a beloved brother.
Quick read
Not typed · why →A runaway slave who met Paul in prison and was sent home as a beloved brother.
“Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.”
Onesimus was a slave in Philemon's household. He ran away, perhaps after wronging his master or taking something, since Paul offers to repay anything he owes. Somehow he came to Paul, who was in prison, and became a believer. Paul calls him my child, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
His name means useful. Paul makes a gentle joke of it: formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me. Paul would have liked to keep him, but sent him back to Colossae with a letter, asking Philemon to receive him as a beloved brother. Paul sent him with Tychicus to the Colossians too, calling him our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
Beginning
A slave who runs away.
Turning point
He meets Paul and believes.
High point
He serves Paul in his chains.
Turning point
He returns to the master he left.
Ending
Sent to the church as one of them.
Starts as a runaway slave. Ends as a faithful and beloved brother.
Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.
Why there's no type here
Onesimus never speaks in Scripture; Paul speaks for him, too little to type him honestly.
Became useful to Paul in prison (). Faithful and beloved (). Willing to go back ().
He ran away from his master, and may have owed him ().
Scripture does not say.
Scripture does not say.
Friends
Discipled or reached
PaulMy child, whose father I became in my imprisonment (Philem 10).
Where this points to Christ
Paul wrote, If he owes you anything, charge that to my account (). That is what Christ does for every runaway: he pays the debt and sends us home as family. A man whose name meant useful learned that his worth came from being loved in the Lord ().
Onesimus had to go back and face the person he wronged. Is there a road home you have been avoiding?
Paul changed his label from useless to useful to brother. Whom have you labeled?
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NextAdamThe PeacemakerThe first man, made from dust, who hid from God and was called out of hiding.
