THERE are probably few stories in the Bible more touching than the brief history of Onesimus, told in Paul's letter to Philemon of Colosse. The apostle was "a prisoner of Jesus Christ," in bonds for the gospel in a Roman prison, when he wrote to this early Christian convert, who was himself also standing firmly for Christ Jesus' teaching, holding meetings of his fellow-Christians in his own house, and spreading the gospel to others.
It appears that a Phrygian slave of Philemon, named Onesimus, had fled from his master to Rome, not without helping himself to some of his master's goods, by means of which ill-gotten gain he had meant, no doubt, to enjoy himself at liberty in the great capital. The interesting thing to us, however, is that he did nothing of the kind. By what means he was led to seek out the prisoner, Paul, we know not; but he must have known the apostle when the latter came as an honored guest to his master Philemon's house, and may even have waited upon him there. Be that as it may, the man had evidently caught some glimpse of good there, which now attracted him to the great ambassador for Christ, with the result that the Christian faith, which had seemingly failed to touch him in Philemon's house, now altered and regenerated his whole being; for this poor Phrygian slave, who in those times represented one of the very lowest types known in the civilized world, was so enlightened by the love of God, to which Paul bore living witness, that his sinful thought was utterly changed. Paul must have rejoiced over this, for he writes tenderly of him as "my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me." The name "Onesimus" means profitable or useful; and Paul thus charmingly and lovingly plays upon the word, pointing out to his former master that Onesimus has now become very useful to them both through his renewal in Christ.
This slave, used as he was to serving and caring for others, must have thrown himself into a devotion of faithful service at Paul's feet, and the sorely beset apostle, brave and lofty as his spirit always was amidst hardship, seems to have responded to this humble gratitude with heartfelt affection. Indeed, he can hardly bear to part from the comfort which has come to him so unexpectedly in his prison; he feels this simple Phrygian to be his very child; and he begs Philemon to receive this runaway, whom he is sending back to him, "as myself."
