In brief
Onesimus is the slave of Philemon, a Christian of Colossae. Paul, a prisoner, met him and became his spiritual father while in chains. In the letter to Philemon, Paul sends him back to his master, asking that he be received no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother. Paul even offers to repay whatever Onesimus might owe. In the letter to the Colossians, he is called a faithful and beloved brother. We remember forgiveness and brotherhood in Christ.
What does the name Onesimus mean?
Onesimus is a Greek name meaning useful or profitable. Paul alludes to it in Philemon 11: this man who was once useless to Philemon is now useful both to him and to Paul.
The story of Onesimus
A slave in the house of Philemon
Philemon 1:1-2; Colossians 4:9Philemon is a Christian whose house serves as a meeting place. Onesimus is his slave. Colossians 4:9 says he is one of them, so he is from Colossae. The letter suggests that he had left his master, without telling the details of his departure.
Meeting Paul in prison
Philemon 1:10Paul is in chains when Onesimus comes to him. He calls him his child, whom he fathered in his chains. He means that this man became a Christian through him. The prisoner and the former runaway are now brothers in the faith.
Useless yesterday, useful today
Philemon 1:11-13Paul plays on the meaning of the name: the one who was useless to you is now useful. He admits he would have liked to keep Onesimus with him to serve him in the chains of the gospel. Yet he sends him back to Philemon, out of respect for him.
A plea for grace
Philemon 1:15-19Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself. If Onesimus has wronged him or owes him anything, Philemon should charge it to Paul. The apostle signs with his own hand: he will repay. The grace received from Christ thus reshapes the relationship between master and slave.
A faithful brother sent to Colossae
Colossians 4:7-9In the letter to the Colossians, Paul sends Tychicus with Onesimus, whom he calls a faithful and beloved brother, one of their own. They will tell the church everything that is happening with Paul. The former slave is thus welcomed and sent as a trusted messenger.
What Onesimus teaches us
- Christ changes relationships: a slave and his master become brothers in the faith.
- The gospel turns a life judged useless into a life useful to the Lord and to others.
- Paul takes on Onesimus's debt, a picture of the grace of Christ who pays for us.
- Repairing the past means reconciliation and taking responsibility for one's actions.
- Someone who left a negative mark in the past can be called faithful and beloved.
Key verses
Paul speaks of his child Onesimus, fathered in chains. He plays on the meaning of his name: once useless, now useful. The verse sums up the change the gospel brought to this life.
Paul asks that it be charged to his account. He commits to paying whatever Onesimus might owe. This picture of substitution recalls the grace of Christ who takes on himself the debt of the sinner.
Paul sends Onesimus with Tychicus to Colossae and calls him a faithful and beloved brother, one of their own. The former slave's standing is fully restored before the church.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Onesimus in the Bible?
Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, in Colossae. He met Paul in prison, became a Christian, then was sent back to his master with the letter to Philemon. Paul asks that he be received as a beloved brother, and he is mentioned again in Colossians 4:9.
What does the name Onesimus mean?
Onesimus is a Greek name meaning useful or profitable. It was common among slaves. Paul makes a wordplay on it in Philemon 11: this man, once useless to Philemon, is now useful both to him and to Paul.
Where can I find the story of Onesimus in the Bible?
It is in Paul's short letter to Philemon, which has only one chapter. Onesimus is named there in verses 10 to 21 or so. He also appears in Colossians 4:9, where Paul sends him to Colossae with Tychicus.