Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon, and Onesimus was willingly returning to the master he had wronged, because both were convinced that this was the proper, Christian course of action. After his conversion Onesimus had become a loyal friend and helper of the imprisoned apostle. He has assisted Paul with Paul’s apostolic labors, probably serving as the imprisoned apostle’s messenger and personal servant. In fact, Onesimus had been so helpful to Paul that the thought had crossed Paul’s mind more than once that he should keep Onesimus with him. Paul could even credit Onesimus’ service as coming from Philemon, he reasoned, because the apostle was sure that Philemon wanted to do something to help him during his imprisonment but was prevented by distance from doing so. How could Philemon have refused such a request from the apostle, if he had made it?
But Paul knew that it would not be proper for him to presume upon Philemon’s generosity in that way. He did not want to put Philemon in a situation in which a generous gesture would be forced upon him rather than flowing spontaneously from a loving heart. So, as far as Paul was concerned, there was only one thing to do. He would send Onesimus back to Philemon. If Philemon then wanted to do something more, perhaps even send Onesimus back to the apostle “on loan” until Paul was released from his imprisonment, that decision would be entirely Philemon’s.
As he sends Onesimus back to Philemon, Paul makes no attempt to excuse the past behavior of the slave who has been unprofitable. As he encourages Philemon to forgive and receive Onesimus, however, the apostle asks the master to note the various ways in which the Lord had overruled the wrong Onesimus had done and made it serve for good.
Onesimus had been brought into contact with Paul and been converted to Christianity. Paul had gained a devoted Christian friend and a helper for his ministry. There was a definite possibility that, in the end, this whole affair would bring good to Philemon too. When Onesimus had run away, Philemon had been deprived of a slave and that slave’s service. He had suffered loss for a time. Now, if he received Onesimus back, Philemon would have him back permanently, and he would have him back in a new and infinitely better relationship. As a Christian slave, Onesimus would serve Philemon in a much more joyful and efficient manner than he had ever served before. He would now be doing his work for Philemon as if he were doing it for the Lord.
In addition, Philemon and Onesimus would now share a precious spiritual bond that they had not shared before, the bond of a common faith. Beyond their physical relationship of slave and master, they would share a spiritual relationship as brothers in Christ. This blessed fellowship cuts through all earthly and social ties and continues throughout eternity. At the same time, it sanctifies and changes all earthly relationships for the better.