Colossians 4:9 Commentary and Bible Study

Onesimus was a runaway slave. He was a slave to Philemon, a rich man who was a member of the church at Colossae. The church at Colossae met in Philemon’s very large house, and Philemon had Onesimus as a slave. Philemon on being converted had started to treat his slaves, we presume, with great gentleness and respect, and young Onesimus took advantage and stole money from Philemon and ran away to Rome. But it was the law in the Roman empire that a runaway slave must be returned to his master. And Paul found Onesimus, or Onesimus found Paul – we do not know how it happened – when Paul was a prisoner in Rome. And Onesimus was converted and he became faithful and approved among the Christians at Rome.Now Paul, who does not agree with slavery or want it, but nevertheless he obeys the law and sends Onesimus back to Philemon with a kind of plea for his emancipation, a plea that Onesimus would in future be treated just like brother; it is all in the Letter to Philemon. ‘Just as you would treat me,’ Paul appeals to Philemon, ‘so treat Onesimus.’ If that is not a plea for emancipation, what is? The law is obeyed and the slave owner is appealed to, and he gladly responds because he is a converted man. No longer a thief and a waster and a runaway, Philemon will of course get his liberty from Philemon, I think that goes without saying.