Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
(Philemon vv. 8-13, NKJV)
This tiny 22 verse book tells a fascinating story. Onesimus was a slave of Philemon’s, yet somehow, he ended up serving Paul. He became a son to Paul. In today’s verses, Paul wrote he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon, with a very pointed request—a command really. Philemon must receive Onesimus with love, with gratitude for his service to Paul.
We in the U.S. have a specific impression of slavery because of a devastating history. Things were different during the time of Paul. Slaves were more like indentured servants and not viewed as property. However, they were still servants—certainly not family.
I imagine Paul was thinking about words he’d written to the church at Galatia: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (3:28)
Receive our brother, Paul was writing. Our brother in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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