Subject: What did Onesimus do? |
Bible Note: Thank you again, prayon! I had always wondered exactly why Onesimus fleed from Philemon.. Was Philemon, being a convert to Christianity through Paul (v.19), simply a hard master? Or was it something else? You have answered this question of mine: he wronged his master by stealing something.. And his visit to Paul proved beneficial to everyone involved, since Onesimus would now be a fellow brother in Christ to Philemon, instead of just being his runaway slave! And in many ways, Onesimus' conversion saved his own life as well, since the penalty for a fleeing slave was death. In this short little book, we have a beautiful picture of forgiveness! Paul here is perfectly 'mirroring' what Christ has done for us with God the Father, he says, "if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.. but if he has wronged you in any way, then charge that to my account... since you owe to me even your own self" (since Christ is God's own Son!) Blessings, prayon! |