Story of A Run away slave Paul’s letter to Philemon About Onesimus 1 [email protected].

1www.drnjpaul.com [email protected]

Story that makes history• Paul was a prisoner in Rome. He was waiting to appear before

the Emperor. The Jewish temple authorities blew up the issue bigger than the trial of Jesus that took place before the Roman governor some thirty years ago. They could not accept a learned man – a staunch Pharisee such as Paul, to be a strong witness for Christ. Already the Jews were starting political agitations against Rome and the religious fanaticisms could result in the outbreak of a riot. And Paul was a great scholar born of a noble family – which they called in those –Roman citizen. So no other court can try him except the Emperor. Also the most dangerous criminals meant for death penalty also must be tried before emperor before being condemned. So Paul, was brought to Rome


Onesimus vs Philamon• The Roman officials allowed Paul to stay in a rented

house along with his friends and his helpers as Paul waited for two years to meet the Emperor.

• Rome was big city with millions of people from slave countries, traders scholars poor and the rich. One could be lost in the crowd and no body could catch a slave who ran away from his master from far away town of Colosse in Eastern Turkey and came to Rome where he was seen by fellowmen of Paul when they came to market to buy things. They brought Onesimus to Paul. What did Paul do?


Name and personality• Philemon means –loving, kind person. But did he live

upto that?• Why was he cruel to Onesimus?• The slave’s name was Onesimus which means useless.

How often we use this word when referring to people or work done by them!.

• But when the slave worked for Paul and was returned to his master, he came with a new name Onesiporous meaning useful

• If Paul could do that how much more Jesus?


Cruel master

• Philemon was a church leader and a church was run in his own home. How could he be unkind or cruel to a slave to such an extent that he ran hundreds of kilometers and changed ships to come to far away Rome in Italy. May be he worked in the ship to earn his passage. But that was much better than working for his master!


A personal letter to solve a problem

• Was it a social problem –ancient and modern?• Was it a Colour issue or cultural issue?• Collosse was a town in – eastern Turkey - much different

from Roman culture• In the Greek regime which preceded the Romans the

slaves were not treated as bonded labour but did even specialized jobs as architecture, shop keeping, handicrafts, accounting, farm management etc. Onesimus was raised in that culture.

• But Romans treated slaves cruely6www.drnjpaul.com [email protected]

Paul a prisoner• Paul was a man of noble birth but was held as

prisoner under false accusation. Under Roman law a man has rights to follow any religious practice he likes or chooses. Even a parent cannot force a child. But it was un tenable to the Jews. To them it was blasphemy worthy of death penalty. Paul was right in every way. He was a very learned scholar to understand what he believes. Was Onesimus right in his thinking? No! The master paid a price and bought the salve and so he must work.


Paul and me

• What would we do if we were in Paul’s position?• We would have been angry with fellowmen for

bringing in a run away slave• The soldiers could find him and that will be more

problem• Already they were in prison and taking in a run

away slave should invite more trouble• It is not right to encourage a run away slave• So we would have sent him back


Drive out or drive in?• Paul did not drive out the slave nor did he ask why he

ran away from the master but• He welcomed Onesimus a guest and made him stay

for some days • What Onesimus saw with Paul brought

transformations within• Paul a noble man rich and educated was suffering in

prison for no reason and he never complained man or God

• Even in his adverse situation he was helpful to others


Had Paul sent him away• the slave could have been caught by the Roman soldiers ( as

slaves bear a burnt scar mark) and sent to gallys as a bonded row man in the ships

• Or sent to the arena to fight with gladiators as people watch the fun

• To them the life of a slave was no better than a dog• Or some one would have caught him and sold him in the

slave market• Did Onesimus realize the freedom he sought would land him

in more danger?.• People who find Christ and his teaching hard run into worldly

pleasures not realizing the dangers they will have10www.drnjpaul.com [email protected]

More than kindness

• Paul paid a great price for the folly of the slave.• He arranged the passage expenses for the slave

and two escorts to take him safe. They had to travel long distance from Itay across Greece and then to Turkey and to the eastern province where Colosse was. The surprise was that Paul never visited that church but the fellowman Ephroditus established it.

• He and Timothy joined the long journey with Paul’s letter to Philemon


Letter or Magna Carta?• Those days letters were written on leather

parchment or Papyrus scrolls The scrolls were about 1.5 ft wide and length may even run to 15 ft. This was a small letter about the size of a bath towel

• So the three men carried it while Onesimus carried lot of weight and fear in his heart

• What would be the reaction of the master?• Those days the run away slaves could even

face death penalty 12www.drnjpaul.com [email protected]

Silenced by surprise

• As the two men handed over the letter to Philemon Onesimus was fallen at the feet of the Master.

• As the master read thru the contents his heart was overwhelmed with emotion at the concern for a slave Paul the prisoner had.

• A man in bonds was asking for freedom of a guilty sinner

• And see what the price he paid for restoration!•


The letter made a legend• We don not know what happened later. But historians

say that Philemon nailed the letter to the main door so that whenever the slave had a temptation to run away he would think of the price paid by Paul

• And he the master would also have to think how considerate he has to be to a slave returned back

• The greatest truth was when Bible scholars were compiling, they rejected many texts and scripts as unscriptural or irrelevant but could not throw away this letter which survived the ravages of time to finds its place in the word of God


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Bible truths in an easy way


Story of A Run away slave Paul’s letter to Philemon About Onesimus 1 [email protected].

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