Philemon’s Slave

Philemon’s Slave

Q: What was the name of Philemon’s slave who stole from him and ran away?

• a. Onesimus
• b. Zenas
• c. Epaphras

The book of Philemon is a short, personal letter to Philemon, a wealthy member of the Colossian church, which met in his home. Slavery was common in the Roman Empire, and Philemon owned a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away to Rome. Once there, he met Paul and heard the gospel message. Onesimus became a believer.

Paul wrote to Philemon to ask him to take Onesimus back, not just as a slave, but also as a fellow believer. Slave owners had the right to kill runaway slaves, so Onesimus feared for his life. But Paul appealed to Philemon’s goodness. Paul offered to pay any money Onesimus owed his master.

In many ways, what Paul did for Onesimus is a picture of what Jesus did for us. Just as Onesimus was a slave to Philemon, we are slaves to our sin. Paul interceded, or pleaded, with Philemon for Onesimus, just as Christ intercedes for us with God. Onesimus was forgiven just as we are forgiven in God’s sight through Jesus. Paul offered to pay Onesimus’s debt just as Christ paid the debt for our sin on the cross.

Philemon, Paul, and Onesimus provide a picture of the work Jesus did in freeing us from sin and making us part of God’s family.

For You

Have you allowed Jesus to free you from sin? If not, talk to someone about doing that today. If you have, thank God for his gift of salvation through Jesus. Take time this week to read the short letter Paul wrote to Philemon.

Answer: a

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.   Philemon 1:10-12

(The Whole Story: The book of Philemon)