yet for Christ’s sake I rather appeal to you – being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ – (10) I appeal to you for my son, Onesimus, whom  have begotten while in my chains,…….(12) I am sending him back.  You therefore receive him, that is my own heart, (13) whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.  (14) But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. (15) For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, (16) no longer as a slave but more than a slave – a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (17) If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.  

The Apostle Paul write the letter to Philemon. This letter was the shortest and certainly the most personal of Pauls letter – and it was written while Paul was in chains in Rome. Philemon was a Christian from Colossae who was also a slave owner (the Bible never directly attacks ownership of slaves).  Onesimus was a slave of Philemom who stole from his master and ran away-  led by God to Paul who led him to Christ. Both Paul and Onesimus realized that as a Christian Onesimus needed to make things right with Philemon, including restitution for the theft. So this letter is an appeal by Paul on behalf of Onesimus, that Philemon accept this runaway slave as not just returned “property” but as a brother in Christ.

Paul could have asserted his Apostolic authority but he wanted Philemon’s forgiveness and acceptance completely and in Christ.  The focus of the letter is that faith in God changes us – we are new men/women. Paul is totally filled with love for Christ and he is completely immersed in god’s work. We get that Paul is sensitive, gracious amd loving. And funny. In this very personal letter we see the playfulness of the author – he even made a little joke saying that Onesimus – meaning useful – would become useful in his new Christian state. Onesimus had experienced a total change in character as a new man in Christ. He had changed his relationship with God – through grace- leading to change of relationship with his fellow man. Onesimus has really changed from useless to useful.