I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.
(Philemon 1.10
NRSV)
Even in prison Paul talks about his faith in Jesus Christ. He meets a young man named Onesimus and converts him to Christianity. Onesimus is a runaway slave. As they talk together Paul discovers that he knows Onesimus' master, Philemon. Paul had been to the home of Philemon and Apphia. In fact Paul had brought Christianity into their home.
Onesimus is convinced after his daily conversations with Paul that the best thing for him to do is to return to his master. There was risk involved for both Paul and Onesimus. Paul was aiding a runaway slave, and Onesimus risked being killed.
Paul writes a letter to Philemon for Onesimus to hand deliver. In it Paul says concerning Onesimus, "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me...So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me."
Onesimus became a new person once he became a follower of Jesus Christ. Philemon was also a new person in Jesus Christ. Philemon accepted Onesimus and eventually sent him back to Paul.
Have you ever wondered what happened to Onesimus? In the first century before Ignatius of Antioch was executed, Paul wrote several letters to churches in Asia Minor. One of these letters was to the church at Ephesus and was addressed to the Bishop of Ephesus whose name was Onesimus. Many Bible scholars believe that the runaway slave Onesimus became a great leader in the early church.
God of love, help me to go where Jesus sends me. Amen.
