“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me” (Philemon 1:10-11 NKJV). While Paul was under house arrest in Rome and awaiting trial, incredibly, he had opportunities to teach others the Gospel of Christ. To the church in Philippi, he spoke of the saints of Caesar’s household (4:22). The phrase could indicate the Imperial family, but it could also refer to some employed in the service of the emperor, such as staff and slaves. It very well might be used here of the praetorian or imperial guards who took shifts watching Paul. No doubt Paul took the opportunity to speak to them about the hope of salvation in Christ, and as each shift came to guard him, there would be another opportunity to preach the Truth to them. Luke concluded the Book of Acts by speaking of this time by saying, “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31).
One of those who came to Paul was a runaway slave named Onesimus. He is mentioned as belonging to Philemon, a Christian who hosted a congregation of God’s people in his home (Philemon 1:1). For whatever reason, Onesimus ran away from Philemon and wound up in Rome. We don’t have the details of why Onesimus left or how he came to be with Paul. However, it is possible he sought him out, since Paul spoke of the relationship he had with Philemon, and may have known about Paul’s situation. For whatever reason, he and Paul came together.
Onesimus means “useful,” although Paul said he was more useless than useful (Philemon 1:11). It isn’t hard for one to imagine Philemon asking Apphia, possibly his wife, “Where is Onesimus?” “I don’t know where Useful is,” she might say. “Useful,” Philemon could respond, “more like useless.” All that changed when Onesimus obeyed the Gospel and truly lived up to his name, becoming a great help to Paul, even to the point Paul said sending him back to Philemon was like sending his own heart (Philemon 1:12). What a change the Gospel had made in his life, not only in reconciling him to Philemon but changing his very view of life.
What great things God can accomplish through the power of the Gospel! As one person said, “Christianity knows nothing of hopeless cases.” Experiencing the forgiveness of his sins, and gaining a better, positive life that offers hope instead of despair, would have been a breath of fresh air for Onesimus and for Philemon as well. No matter what had happened between the two before, now, in Christ, something special could happen, something that couldn’t be experienced without both of them being united in Christ. “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 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” (Philemon 1:15-16).
Sin distorts the image of God in us. It reflects itself instead, which is dark, void of what is good. Sins prevents souls from reaching their potential and being right with God. In other words, sin makes us useless! God offers us His best – Christ, who offered His best in His life and in His death for us. Now, we are useful, pleasing to God, and as Christians, we practice a better way to live, knowing eternal life awaits us.
While Paul didn’t let us know how the events associated with Onesimus and Philemon ended, in Christ we know it was much better than if nothing had changed. So it is for us. In Christ, we are better able to be children of God, cleansed of sin, kind and loving, filled with hope, and anticipating being with our Lord forever. May we all seek to be an Onesimus – useful to each other and to God. This is what an abundant life is all about.
