Onesimus
A slave who ran away from Philemon of Colossae, met Paul in prison and became a Christian. Paul sent him back carrying the shortest and most personal of his letters, playing on the name — which means 'useful' — to say that the man once useless to his master was now useful to them both. He asks Philemon to receive him no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother, and offers to pay anything owed out of his own pocket. Colossians calls him a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own.
Where in scripture
ColossiansPhilemontogether with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
Colossians 4:9
The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Colossians 4:18
I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
Philemon 1:10 — 'My child… Onesimus'
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Philemon 1:25
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
In art
