I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me). I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. Philemon 10-12

Onesimus was apparently a slave to Philemon (v. 16), and not a very good one at that. He was “unprofitable” to Philemon (v. 11). Was he lazy? Stubborn? We don’t know, but whatever the conditions under which he “served” Philemon, he was known by all the people in Colossae as more of a burden to his owner than a boon.

He had run away to Rome, for whatever reason, we do not know. In Rome he managed to connect with the Apostle Paul, and Paul was able to lead him to a saving knowledge of God (v. 10). And now Paul was sending him back, bearing this letter (and, perhaps, Colossians?) to his friend Philemon, with instructions as to how he was to receive this runaway slave.

But wait a second: Didn’t we just see that Hebrews, according to the Law of God, were not supposed to return runaway slaves to their masters? Weren’t they supposed to make appropriate accommodations for them, and let them enjoy their freedom? Is Paul setting himself above the Law of God here?

Not in the least (as you might have guessed). Paul is tapping into the very spirit of the Law, going beyond the mere letter of the Law to disclose and accomplish the true purpose and intent of the Law with respect to Onesimus, Philemon, the church in Colossae, and, as we shall see, the very institution of slavery itself.

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