Onesimus Runaway Slave

In the early Christian church, slavery was prevalent. For every free man, there were three slaves. One historical account records a man by the name of Caecilius as having owned 4,116 slaves. A slave could not marry or own anything. A slave could be tortured in his master’s stead during a criminal investigation. And if a slave dared to run away from his master, the punishment, if he were ever caught again, was death.

Onesimus was a slave who belonged to a man named Philemon, a Christian residing in Colossae. For reasons unknown, Onesimus had run away with some of his master’s possessions in tow (Philemon 18). All that he was, all that he had, all that he acquired and earned was for his master’s gain alone. Why shouldn’t he have a better life that he could call his own?

Somehow, Onesimus ended up in Rome. Perhaps he thought that the big city was the best chance he had of starting a new life, some 1,400 miles away from Philemon. But his master’s goods went only so far. One thing led to another, and Onesimus finally found himself in the company of the apostle Paul, who at the time was imprisoned in Rome (v. 1). It turned out to be a divine intervention.

The apostle taught him of the gospel, of Jesus Christ, his Savior and Redeemer. Onesimus’ heart was moved. He saw now that he had been wrong to rob his master and leave as he did. He gave his heart to Christ, asking for forgiveness (v. 10).

As a result, he began to change. No longer were his actions focused on bettering his own situation, but he became an especial comfort to Paul, tending to the older apostle’s needs during his confinement (v. 13).

When Paul requested that the escaped slave return home to Philemon, Onesimus obliged (v. 12). He would willingly return to slavery in order to right his wrongs. If his master, though a Christian, decided to put him to death for running away, so be it. He was a changed man, and he would live his life like one, as a laborer for Christ (Colossians 4:9).

Reflect: Knowing the institution of slavery to be altogether reprehensible, would you have done the same as Onesimus if you were in his position? As Christians, how are we to act in unjust situations?

Key Bible Texts

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (Philemon 1:15 KJV)