Onesimus

Who Onesimus is

Onesimus is named twice. Colossians sends him with Tychicus to report Paul's situation, calling him a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you, so the readers are told he belongs to their own community. The letter to Philemon is about him. Paul writes that he could command but chooses to ask, then makes his request for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. He sets two words against each other, saying he was in time past unprofitable and is now profitable to thee and to me. Paul says he has sent him back, calls him mine own bowels, and says he would have kept him to serve in Philemon's place, but would not act without Philemon's agreement so that the favour would be willing rather than forced. He suggests a reading of what happened, that perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever, and asks for him to be received not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, both in the flesh, and in the Lord. He then offers to cover any debt himself, saying he writes it with his own hand, and expresses confidence that Philemon will do more than he asks.

Cited passages: Colossians 4:9, Philemon 1:8, Philemon 1:9, Philemon 1:10, Philemon 1:11, Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:13, Philemon 1:14, Philemon 1:15, Philemon 1:16, Philemon 1:17, Philemon 1:18, Philemon 1:19, Philemon 1:21

Historical setting

The text never says that Onesimus stole anything or ran away. The nearest statement is conditional, If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account, which leaves both the wrong and the debt as possibilities rather than facts, and the only word about his leaving is that he departed for a season. That verse also frames the departure as something Paul only guesses at, beginning for perhaps. His status is given plainly: the request is that he be received not now as a servant, but above a servant, which shows he had been one, and this source prints a line inside the last verse of Philemon describing him as Onesimus a servant. That line, and the one in the final verse of Colossians naming him with Tychicus as a carrier, stand in the verse text rather than as headings. Nothing states his age, family, birthplace or what happened after the letter was delivered, and Philemon's answer is not recorded.

Cited passages: Philemon 1:15, Philemon 1:16, Philemon 1:18, Philemon 1:25, Colossians 4:9, Colossians 4:18

How the story is told

The letter builds pressure without issuing an order, and it says so outright: though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee. Onesimus is placed inside a family word before anything is asked, my son Onesimus, and then inside Paul's own body, mine own bowels, so refusing the request would mean refusing Paul. The contrast at verse 11 turns the man's usefulness into the hinge of the argument, unprofitable against profitable, and the request itself is phrased as a change of category rather than a favour, not now as a servant, but above a servant. The offer to pay is written in a way that cancels itself in the next breath, since Paul says he will repay and then reminds Philemon what he already owes. Colossians shows him differently, travelling as a trusted messenger and introduced with no mention of any of this.

Cited passages: Philemon 1:8, Philemon 1:9, Philemon 1:10, Philemon 1:11, Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:16, Philemon 1:18, Philemon 1:19, Colossians 4:9

Story moments

1. Sent as a trusted messenger (Colossians 4:9). Colossians names him a faithful and beloved brother who belongs to the readers.
2. The request begins (Philemon 1:10). Paul asks on behalf of a man he calls his son, begotten in his bonds.
3. Unprofitable and profitable (Philemon 1:11). The argument turns on a contrast about usefulness.
4. Sent back willingly (Philemon 1:14). Paul refuses to keep him without Philemon's free agreement.
5. Above a servant (Philemon 1:16). The request is for a change of standing, not just forgiveness.
6. Put it on my account (Philemon 1:18). Any debt is offered conditionally and taken onto Paul himself.

Key passages

Colossians 4:9

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

Colossians 4:18

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Printed after this letter in the King James Version: Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

Philemon 1:10

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Philemon 1:25

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Printed after this letter in the King James Version: Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.

King James Version. 4 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Paul asks for Onesimus to be received in a different category rather than merely forgiven. Where would changing how you classify someone be harder than letting an offence go?

Books Onesimus appears in

• Colossians
• Philemon

Related people

• Jesus Christ
• Paul
• Mark
• Luke
• Epaphras
• Barnabas
• Timothy
• Philemon