Jake's Random Thoughts

This is a story I wrote sometime back. It is a fictionalized account of how Paul's letter to Philemon came to be delivered. It is FICTION.

Bishop Onesimus

The Bishop, an aged man, sat at a table reading. His back permanently bent from years hunched over in study. Any who came to seek his guidance would find him a very common man. Throughout the year, his clothing never varied from the rough Greek tunic and commonplace sandals better suited for the work of a slave than for comfort. Even with his plain clothing, the Christians in his flock highly esteemed him as a worthy Shepard.

A flickering candle rested on the work-worn table before Onesimus, the old Bishop of Ephesus, casting an orange glow upon an aged letter he read. The Bishop’s pinched expression, the result of reading and writing for decades in the poor light, gazed downward at the yellowed and scorched letter. The letter had asked for his freedom years ago. Back then, he could never have imagined how much of a role the letter would play in changing his life.

His eyes fixed upon the letter, Onesimus read the line most important to him over the years, “. . . he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and me.” (Philemon 11, New International Version) Since that morning long ago in his youth, when his new father gave him this letter, which asked for his freedom from slavery, Onesimus has prayed constantly for the Lord to use him. Those prayers had continued to be answered in ways he never would have thought possible on the day he left the imprisoned Apostle to begin his journey back to Colossae. Granted freedom upon his return to Colossae, Onesimus worked tirelessly to build up and strengthen those around him in the Lord. Well known as a natural encourager, Onesimus gave praise throughout Kingdom to the Saints under his charge for their faithfulness in staying firm in the truth (To the Ephesians 6:2, “Letters of Ignatius”). Now, late in his life, the Spirit has called Onesimus to be useful to the Lord’s purpose in a way that will help Christians for generations to come, namely collecting all the letters the Apostle Paul penned to the churches.

As Onesimus contemplated the letter that ensured his freedom, he feared it could prove to be too personal. Meant for his former master, Philemon, the letter served as a reminder of the grace Christ worked in his life. Over the last few years, he collected many of the other letters Paul penned to the churches. Most of the letters contained great Christian truths, while others were little more than simple communication between fellow workers. Onesimus feared his detractors may see this single page letter as one of the latter. Even worse, the desire to include the letter alongside the others could be seen as pride on his part. Still, Onesimus knew the lesson of grace taught through the letter served as an example of Christ’s grace freely offered. Deeply troubled by the decision he needed to make, Onesimus closed his eyes and lifted his head in prayer, remembering those days when he first learned about Jesus and grace.

The Journey

As Onesimus traveled back to Colossae to deliver the letters, he appreciated the rough Roman cobblestone road from Pergamum to Ephesus. During his escape two years previous, the constant fear of capture had brought him to travel some distance away from the road through the rocks and thick underbrush. The jagged landscape had left him scratched and battered. In addition to unceasing fear and the grueling terrain, hunger had made the journey almost unbearable. Several times he had even considered a return to slavery and punishment. Still, he had pushed on. Night and day, he remained under constant threat as his Greek features and tattered clothing would have easily identified him as a slave to any of the Roman citizens along the way. Moreover, Onesimus remembered, how he believed that encounters with anyone he observed walking along the road would surely have led to his return to slavery and certain death.

Even after Onesimus arrived in Rome, starved and exhausted, he failed to find relief. Following the long journey, he had plainly stood out to the Roman authorities as a vagrant. Within only a few hours, the Roman guards seized and delivered him to the jail. At the jail, the jailer had taken him to a cell where he was confined with several other men. Onesimus stayed in the jail for three days. The other men had not welcomed him since he was just another mouth to help consume the single bucket of food allotted each day. Thus, he remained hungry and very much alone. Then, on the afternoon of the third day the guards had taken him along with a few other prisoners from the cell. Once in the yard, the guards directed them to stand in line. After the men had formed a line, the guards brought out an old man bound with chains and stood him before the prisoners.

The chains would be the first memory of the Apostle Paul for Onesimus. Paul, scanning the row, had stopped and looked directly into his eyes. With that look, the die was cast. The link that connected the two men, hardly coincidence, was clearly foreordained. Onesimus had sensed at once a calming presence about Paul as the sounds in the yard evaporated. Then, in silence, Paul had nodded toward Onesimus, unable to raise his chain-bound arms. Without any hesitation or discussion, two guards removed Onesimus from the line and followed behind the guards who then led Paul back to his confinement.

The two men were placed together in a room deep within a large white building. No conversation occurred between Onesimus and Paul until the next day. Then, in the morning, Onesimus arose to the sound of the old man praying. As he listened to Paul pray for understanding between them, the anxiety Onesimus felt since his capture quickly faded. There was sincerity in Paul’s voice that engendered trust. Onesimus wanted to know more about this man who appeared to hold great sway with the guards even though he himself was a prisoner.

After he finished his prayers, Paul motioned for Onesimus to come over and sit beside him. Unafraid, Onesimus had gone over and sat beside the old man. Then, the Apostle had introduced himself simply by name and asked Onesimus his name.

“Onesimus,” Onesimus replied.

“Onesimus, you are no doubt wondering why you are here.” Paul said with a welcoming smile. As he reached over patted Onesimus on the knee Paul continued, “You see, I too am a prisoner of the Romans. However, I am also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. It is to Christ the greater master that I serve. As you can well see, I am an old man and need help with some tasks. Thankfully, the Lord hears my prayers and knows my needs. So, the Lord Jesus led the Romans to permit me a helper, you. The Lord has brought you to this work. Praise God!”

Unsure how to respond to this strange impassioned old man, Onesimus only sat and listened. “What could this old man be talking about with this unknown master and God?” Onesimus wondered. “More importantly, was this God leading him to work with this raver?” Nonetheless, he felt much more secure with Paul than in the jail, or sent back to his master Philemon.

Paul continued, “All I ask is your consent that you are willing to assist me.”

Onesimus felt an affinity with Paul he did not yet fully understand. There was just something about the old man’s presence that made him feel secure. Thus, without hesitation, Onesimus said, “I will work with you.”

“Good,” Paul said softly with a grateful expression.

Their time passed quickly together. Before the day was out, Paul had shared the message of “The Way” with Onesimus. Later that day, Onesimus accepted Christ as his Savior. Although Onesimus did not yet fully understand how Christ would work in his life, the presence of the Holy Spirit as Paul described Him had begun to guide him. From that day forward he remembered, no matter what happened he would first be a slave to Christ. During their time together, Paul spent as much time helping Onesimus as he did Paul. Within a few short days, Onesimus had realized that Paul never needed him for help with daily chores. Although Paul looked elderly, he had no problem working just as strenuously as Onesimus. As they worked, Onesimus would tell Paul about his past in Colossae. He told him how he ran away from Philemon, and took the wool working tools used in Philemon’s shop. Most importantly, throughout their time together, Paul always encouraged him. In a short time, Onesimus came to love Paul as a son loves a father.

One day Paul came to Onesimus holding a small roll of leather tied with two pieces of twine. Onesimus stopped his work and looked up at Paul.

With a serious tone, Paul said, “Onesimus my son, God has a plan for you. He led you here. I do not know how the Lord will use you. However, there is something that I have not told you. Now, it is time for you to leave me and you must know. I know your former master Philemon well. In truth, he is a brother with us in Christ.”

“What does this mean Father?”

“I am sending you back to your former master,” Paul said. “Within this leather case are two letters. The first is for the church in Colossae. The second is to your master asking for your pardon. With love, he will grant my request. However, if he does not, know your value in Christ. Do not be afraid, the Lord has great things planned for you.”

Onesimus left Rome later that day. The Romans did not try to stop him as he had earlier feared. Onesimus no longer held any fear about a return to Philemon; however, he had not wanted to leave Paul alone in prison. Christ created a bond between him and Paul stronger than any Onesimus had previously known. Still, the mature Paul recognized the call put before Onesimus. He explained how there would be many times in life where Christ would lead Onesimus through trials. Moreover, Paul had reaffirmed how during those trials he must remember that Jesus would be there to support him. Paul told him to stay strong in Christ Jesus and pray always for all the saints. Most importantly, Paul explained, he should always be thankful for the grace Christ provided for him. For through Christ, he had obtained an everlasting freedom no man could take away.

As the weeks went by, Onesimus continued to make his way over the Roman road carrying the two letters tucked safely in his tunic. The journey from Rome was long and difficult on foot. Along the way, he ate from many of the plants he had learned about on his original journey to Rome. On the return trip, however, Onesimus occasionally met and ate with other travelers. During those meetings, Onesimus never failed to share his experience in coming to know Christ. Of course, while walking along the long lonely stretches he passed the time with his thoughts turned toward the Apostle Paul, the man he came to call Father. Thus, he would fill these idle hours thinking about what possible fate lay ahead for Paul in prison as well as his own future in Colossae. Onesimus truly believed God held much more in store for him than a return to a life of servitude with Philemon.

The Theft

Onesimus felt unexpected joy on the day Ephesus finally came into view off in the distance. From Ephesus, he would start the last leg of this long journey. Over the last few days, as the great port city became nearer, he had met other travelers with greater frequency. Some travelers would pass by with barely a nod of acknowledgment. However, a few spent some time chatting while they walked. Some even agreed to share a welcome meal at the end of a long day. So, when the five men emerged from the woods beside the road, Onesimus had felt no reason for alarm.

“Greetings,” he called to them.

“Hello,” a well-dressed man in front responded. “Where are you headed?”

“I am headed toward Ephesus, then on to Colossae. Which way are you going?” Onesimus responded.

“It looks like we will be going in the same direction. So, we may as well travel together,” the man said.

The six travelers continued on their way talking as they walked. Onesimus and the leader of the men walked a few paces in front of the others. Onesimus was thankful for the company. At least the talk would take his mind from what may lay ahead in Colossae. With few to talk with over the past days, Onesimus’ thoughts about his future had usually ended up as long prayers asking for the Lord to soften the hearts of those brothers and sisters with whom he would be reconnecting. Even though he trusted Paul and believed the Lord would not let harm come upon him when he returned home, his mind still expected the worst.

The well-dressed man who walked beside Onesimus told him how he traded in goods inland from Ephesus. He and his men had been on their way to collect additional trade items in Ephesus on that hot summer day. As the man wiped the sweat from his forehead, he asked Onesimus if he had a trade. Having largely ignored the man’s idle talk as he thought about the future, Onesimus stumbled for a moment before he answered the man’s question.

“Oh, yes,” Onesimus replied, “I make wool clothing in Colossae. I am going back there now to either that work or something new. Whatever the Lor…”

A few minutes later, Onesimus awoke from having been knocked unconscious. His head throbbed with pain. Still dazed, he could barely see the men walking around him, but he could hear them. So, to avoid additional harm, Onesimus laid still as the men searched through his meager belongings.

“Look at this!” one of the men yelled, “The leather wrapping he carried contains letters from none other than that troublemaker Saul. Remember him? He now likes to call himself Paul.”

“I thought we had rid ourselves of his heresy in Greece,” another member of the group replied. (Acts 19:2-3)

“Let me see those,” the leader commanded. Glancing at the letters, he asked, “What else does he have, anything of value?”

Without those letters, Onesimus knew he would be nothing more than a runaway slave and thief to Philemon and the other Christians in Colossae. So, wracked with pain, he struggled to his feet and made a desperate, yet feeble, attempt to regain the letters from the man. Onesimus struck the man once before the others intervened and started to beat him with clubs. The last thing Onesimus remembered seeing before falling into unconsciousness was the leader’s face glaring with hatred.

An Unlikely Helper

From a distance in the woods, a young Jewish boy named Samuel witnessed the attack on Onesimus. An orphan, Sam, as he calls himself, had spent the majority of his twelve years living off the streets of Ephesus. As Sam watched the men beat the man, he recognized them as thugs from the city. They were nothing more than the common criminals he always tried to avoid. However, these men were different since in Ephesus they hid behind the facade of being Pharisees.

“The men beat that man so badly,” Sam thought to himself, “there is no chance he could still be alive.” Even though he had felt afraid and did not know what may happen if the man remained alive, Sam sensed a prodding to go and help (Luke 10:25-36).

Sam waited until the men had departed. Then, sure the men were gone; he had made his way over to where Onesimus lay alongside the road. As Sam approached, Onesimus started to regain consciousness. He moaned slightly when Sam turned him over. Seeing Onesimus was not dead, Sam took a cloth from his bag and soaked it with water. With the wet cloth, Sam carefully wiped the dirt and blood from Onesimus’ face. After Sam cleaned Onesimus up, he felt compelled to move him away from the road. So, Sam hooked his arms beneath Onesimus’ arms, and with great effort, pulled him into the tall grass beside the road out of sight.

After several hours had passed and dusk approached, Onesimus awoke from a deep sleep. Startled and disoriented, he tried to jump away from Sam, only to feel a gripping pain that reminded him of the beating he had received.

“Who are you?” Onesimus asked.

“I have been wondering the same thing about you,” Sam replied. “I do not remember seeing you around here before. Why did you come to this place?”

Pausing and waiting for a response Sam added, “My name is Samuel, most just call me Sam.”

“Sam, my name is Onesimus. I once came from Colossae. Now, I am returning there. I have letters to deliver and plan to start life anew.”

“The letters!” Onesimus cried. “Where are the letters?”

“I did not see any letters,” Sam said. “The men from the city who beat you must have taken them.”

“All for nothing,” Onesimus lamented. “Paul held such high hopes for me. Now, Philemon and the other Christians in Colossae will surely not welcome me back. I am sure to be executed, or at least returned to slavery.”

Not knowing how to help, Sam only sat and watched as Onesimus grew more discouraged.

Suddenly, Onesimus sat up and looked to heaven and clasped his hands together. He had forgotten how his father Paul admonished him to stay strong in Christ and pray always. Thus, with his hands clasped he called out to God, “Father, I was nothing and you lifted me up. You protected me and guided me when I did not know you. I am in your hands, helpless. You have a work for me. Is it to show something to my former master? Why would this happen to me when I am so close? Help me Lord I pray, in the name of my Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sam slowly moved to his feet and looked down at Onesimus. “I can help you,” Sam said. “I know where those men live.”

The Plan

Oblivious to the pain from the beating, Onesimus stumbled to his feet. He clutched Sam by the shoulders and said, “Tell me? You know where they live?”

“Yes,” Sam said. “They live together in a house near the Agora. I have never been inside but I did see them going in and out.”

“How many are there?” Onesimus asked as he shook Sam by his shoulders.

“I don’t know!” Sam cried, “Stop, you’re hurting my arms!”

“I’m sorry Sam,” Onesimus said, letting him go. “Are there more than those who attacked me?”

“Maybe, I don’t know for sure,” Sam replied, rubbing his left arm. “They showed up in the city a few months ago. Whenever I see them they are causing trouble for someone. I stay away from them.”

As Onesimus questioned Sam about the whereabouts and details of his attackers, he began to feel dizzy. “I need to sit down,” he said.

Sam moved quickly to his side and helped him to the ground.

“Just sit there for a while,” Sam commanded. “When you feel ready, wait and let me help you off into the woods. Then, we can talk about what to do. For now, I am going to go find us something to eat.”

A few hours later, while eating some berries and nuts Sam had collected for their supper, the two put together a plan to recover the letters. After some discussion, they agreed that Sam would be the one to sneak into the house. Although Onesimus did not relish the idea of putting Sam at risk, he had at last accepted Sam’s argument that, uninjured, he would be less likely to stumble in the dark house. Moreover, as Sam had pointed out, if he did happen to wake the men, at least they would be less likely to connect him with Onesimus and the letters.

The plan to get the letters back included four steps. First, Onesimus and Sam would wait outside the house until late at night to ensure the men and neighbors were sleeping. Second, Sam would need to go in through a window to avoid any creaking doors. During their discussion, they had considered going in through the manger below the main living area since it provided easy access to the house. Unfortunately, going through the manger involved the risk of startling the animals which would likely wake up the men above. So, they decided a window provided the safest way inside. Third, Onesimus told Sam that if he could not quickly find the letters he must get out and not risk capture as a thief. Lastly, if Sam found the letters, he would pass them out the window to Onesimus. Then, Onesimus would help Sam out through the window.

After they finished their meager diner, Onesimus and Sam started the trip into Ephesus. Along the way, the two new friends chatted. Before long, their conversation had moved to Onesimus’ life with Paul. It seemed to Sam that Onesimus should at least offer to explain why he needed to risk his neck to get the letters back. So without hesitation, Sam boldly asked, “Who gave you those letters to deliver anyway?”

“My father Paul,” Onesimus said. “One letter is for Christ’s church in Colossae. The other will help me to make amends with my old master, God willing.”

Onesimus waited for Sam to respond. However, Sam remained silent and waited for Onesimus to tell his story. Onesimus told about his escape from slavery and capture in Rome. Then, he imparted how he had been brought together with Paul as well as how Paul had shared “The Way” with him. As he spoke, Onesimus had felt the Holy Spirit leading him to share the grace Christ offers to all with Sam. So, before long, Onesimus had shared with Sam about Jesus and told him about the freedom from sin Jesus offers.

Onesimus said, “Jesus Christ gave me my freedom. It does not matter how my master will respond if I do not deliver the letters. Even if he chooses to slay me, I will have life through Christ. (John 3:15) Let me tell you, this Jesus, He is the Son of God. (Matthew 16:16) He lived here as a man to fulfill all that the prophets delivered from God. (Matthew 26:56) However, because people are sinful, they took Jesus and put him on a cross, where he died. (Matthew 27:50) They buried him in a tomb and put a huge rock in front so no one could take his body (Matthew 27:59-60) However, on the third day, an angel came and rolled the rock away (Matthew 28:2) Then, Jesus came out of the tomb alive. Jesus had risen from being dead just like he had told his disciples. (Luke 24:7) So, through his death and resurrection, Jesus offers us grace for our sins. There is much more to tell you, but we are entering the city.”

Sam said, “But, I want to hear more.”

“In time my friend,” Onesimus replied “for now, let us go to the house and get the letters back.”

Filled with emotion about that conversation years ago, the old Bishop opened his tear filled eyes. Filled with thanks, he praised God for the grace Christ provided him for his mistakes in life. Back then, he had selfishly only cared about getting the letters back; Sam could wait for another time. He looked down again at the old letter and smiled as he began to realize the greatness of God’s plan over his own. Closing his eyes once again, Onesimus returned his past to see how Christ taught him about grace.

The Lamp

When they arrived outside the house, Onesimus and Sam could see a glow coming through a window. Unsure if the men inside were awake, they sat for a time near the window and listened for anyone moving about. After they had waited for about an hour, no sound could be heard from inside. With all apparently clear, Onesimus motioned for Sam to go through the window.

Sam stood up and peered over the window ledge. He could see the men inside sleeping about the room. Fortunately, no one slept below the window. So, with a boost up from Onesimus, Sam slowly made his way through the window.

Once inside, Sam noticed the men’s belongings lay scattered all over the floor which would make moving about the room much more difficult than he had expected. Scanning the room, he observed a table with a softly glowing lamp against the far wall. In addition, Sam could see some papers scattered about the table. However, beside the table sat the man who had been talking with Onesimus when the attack took place. The man slept with his arms crossed while seated in a chair. Sam looked about the room to locate the other men. Two men laid beside the door covered with tattered blankets. There were also two other men who slept in front of a fireplace where a still smoldering fire added warmth to the room.

Onesimus watched through the window as Sam made his way toward the table. The floor lay littered with cups and plates as well as numerous pointless objects evidently collected by the men. The men slept fully clothed. Onesimus could see the men cared little for the house beyond a place to store what they collected by day and a place to sleep at night.

Sam reached the table and began to carefully lift the papers. Seeing a leather wrapper opened on the table he picked it up and turned to show Onesimus. As he turned, one of the men near the fireplace let out a loud yawn and started to turn over. Startled, Sam jarred the table sent the burning lamp crashing to the floor.

After the lamp struck the ground and the oil splashed across the floor bursting into flames, pandemonium ensued. Instantly, the men jumped up terrified by the intense flames. In the panic to escape, the men failed to even notice Sam on their way out of the burning room. Sam, on the other hand, had at first moved away from the table and started to go back for the letters. However, as the fire grew, Onesimus yelled for Sam to get out before he moved away from the window filled with smoke and flames.

The men tumbled one after another out the door in the panic. Once safely outside and recognizing the authorities would soon be showing up and not wanting to answer any questions, the ring-leader called for his band to follow him. Fortunately, none of them had noticed either Sam trying to get out with them or Onesimus waiting anxiously outside the door.

Still in horror from the flames, Sam had started to run by Onesimus without even seeing him. However, seeing Sam through the smoke, Onesimus grabbed Sam by his robe and spun him around and asked in desperation, “Did you get the letters?”

“I did not see them, only the leather wrapping.” Sam said choked from the dense smoke.

Onesimus turned back to the house and stood there staring at the flames. With a tone of surrender Onesimus started to accept whatever fate lay ahead. However, just as his thoughts were turned to his own problems, Sam ran back past him into the burning building.

“Sam!” Onesimus cried, “Come back, leave them!” His call went unanswered as Sam disappeared into the smoke. He tried to follow Sam inside but the smoke proved too heavy. Unable to help Sam himself, Onesimus prayed for God to save Sam from harm, “Father, bring Sam back through the flames and protect him from harm.”

Back inside the burning room, Sam dropped low to the floor below the thick smoke. His eyes blurred by the smoke, he could barely see the deep-orange flames licking at the papers over by the table on the floor. He quickly made his way over to the burning papers. Reaching them, Sam pounded out the flames with his hands. He then picked up the papers with his seared hands and shoved them inside his robe. Then, nearly overcome with smoke, Sam started to make his way back out as he listened to Onesimus’ calls as a guide to the door. Onesimus had finally seen Sam as he pulled himself across the floor nearly to the doorway. Oblivious to the smoke, Onesimus stepped inside to pull Sam the final distance to safety.

Safely outside, Onesimus helped Sam away from the building as a crowd gathered on the street. To avoid the gathering mass, Onesimus led Sam several buildings away from the fire.

Some distance away from all the commotion, Onesimus helped Sam to the ground. As Onesimus looked at Sam’s burned hands, he asked, “Why did you go back in?”

“I do not know,” Sam said “you looked so disappointed when I did not have the letters.” Then, reaching inside his robe, Sam took out the letters and handed them to Onesimus.

“Thank you,” Onesimus said.

The Decision

Reliving that long ago time, Bishop Onesimus remembered how later that evening, he shared more about Jesus with Sam. Even though Sam had still felt some uncertainties about what life as a follower of Jesus Christ would bring, he believed what Onesimus told him. At daylight, Onesimus baptized Sam in a creek outside of Ephesus. After baptizing Sam, Onesimus located other Christians in Ephesus who would teach Sam how to live with Christ.

Tears came to Bishop Onesimus’ eyes as he remembered the day he left Sam for his return to Colossae. Sam had embraced him without saying anything. Then, having turned back to wave one final time, Onesimus will always remember the picture Sam formed waving farewell. He heard about Sam for several years afterwards. Alongside the Apostle Paul, Sam became a tireless worker for Christ, helping to spread the “Good News” throughout Europe. However, after the Apostle’s martyrdom in Rome, he heard no more about Sam.

Gazing at the old letter, Onesimus realized that his experience with Sam had helped him to gain an understanding about what Paul meant when he wrote in that letter “. . . he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and me.” (Philemon 11) On the one hand, the letter provided the opportunity for his old master to show him grace and forgive the wrongs done. Still, Paul’s letter proved to be much more than a note asking Philemon to forgive one man named Onesimus. The letter serves as an example of Christ’s grace available to all. Thus, the letter was never intended for him alone. The letter belonged to all future generations, and not his personal property, no matter what his detractors may believe. With that, the old Bishop of Ephesus placed Paul’s letter to Philemon with the others meant for the churches.

Fiction or Real?

This story is a work of fiction. The young boy, Sam, who helped Onesimus, is completely imaginary. In addition, while there were Jews who created problems for the Apostle Paul as he traveled sharing the gospel; those described in the story are imaginary (Acts 19:2-3). Also, the adventures Onesimus experienced in the story never happened. Nevertheless, there are characters, places, and items in the story that did exist. They are as follows:

Agora – A marketplace. Ferguson (2003) indicates the Agora in Ephesus provided an excellent gathering place for trade as well as community political discussions (p. 83).

Clothing – Greek workers wore a “chiton” or tunic as the garment is called in English (Ferguson, 2003, p. 96). Freeborn Roman men, on the other hand, wore a toga (Ferguson, 2003, p. 96).

Colossae – A city in Asia Minor located about 120 miles from Ephesus and well known in the first century for wool cloth production (Achtemeier, 1985, p.175). The church in this city received one of the letters the Apostle Paul wrote during his ministry addressing heresy (Bruce, 1984, p. 17). In addition, Bruce (1984) adds, the letters “. . . Colossians and Philemon were, to all appearances, written at the same time and place, sent to the same place, carried by the same messenger, or messengers” (p. 191).

Ephesus – “A port city of western Asia Minor” (Achtemeier, 1985, p.270). Paul wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus that addresses living the Christian life (Bruce, 1984, p. 241). In addition, Paul journeyed through Ephesus on his first and second mission journeys (The Mission Journeys of Paul [Map], New International Version).

Letter to Philemon – A short personal letter written by the Apostle Paul in the early 60’s A.D. (Bruce, 1984, p. 193). According to Achtemeier (1985), “The letter appeals on behalf of Onesimus Philemon’s slave, who has apparently run away after defrauding his master” (p.784). While the letter is part of the New Testament cannon, there were concerns about its inclusion in the early church. For example, Knox (1959) reveals “Jerome tell us that may of his contemporaries objected to Philemon’s inclusion in the New Testament cannon, not because it was unauthentic, but because it was, as compared to other epistles, trivial” (p. 91). Thankfully, the Spirit led to the letter’s inclusion into the New Testament. While the book may seem insignificant to some, the lesson truly does provide a simple example of the grace Christ offers.

Onesimus – The slave noted in the New Testament letter Philemon. Furthermore, the Early Church Father, Ignatius refers to a Bishop of Ephesus named Onesimus multiple times in a letter (To the Ephesians 6:2, “Letters of Ignatius”). In addition, Bruce (1977) reviews the research conducted by Knox (1959) which produced the theory that the Onesimus in the Philemon letter was perhaps the Bishop Onesimus who collected the Pauline letters near the end of the first century (pp. 402-403).

Paul – The Apostle who played a key role in taking the Gospel to the Gentiles. Thirteen of the New Testament letters are attributed to Paul (Schenck, 2010, p. 403). In addition, Schenck (2010) indicates “According to tradition, Paul died in Rome around A.D. 64” (p. 403).

Pergamum – “An ancient city . . . now the modern village of Bergama, Turkey” (Achtemeier, 1985, p.771). Pergamum is one of the churches warned in the book of Revelation (Revelation 2:12-17).

Philemon – “Resident of Colossae and owner of the slave Onesimus, for whom Paul appeals in his Letter to Philemon” (Achtemeier, 1985, p. 784).

References

Achtemeier, P. J. (Ed.). (1985). Harper’s Bible dictionary. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

Bruce, F. F. (1977). Paul: Apostle of the heart set free. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Bruce, F. F. (1984). The epistle to the Colossians, to Philemon and to the Ephesians: The new international commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J., (1994). New Bible commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Carson, D. A. & Moo, D. J., (2005). An introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Ehrman, B. (2003). (Ed. & Trans.). Letters of Ignatius: To the Ephesians. In The apostolic fathers: II Clement, II Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, Didache (pp. 218-239). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Ferguson, E. (2003). Backgrounds of early Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Knox, J. (1959). Philemon among the letters of Paul. (Rev. ed.). New York, NY: Abingdon.

Schenck, K. (2010). Jesus is Lord!: An introduction to the New Testament (2nd ed.). Marion, IN: Triangle Publishing.

Jake's Random Thoughts

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

A Poem

Saturday, November 12, 2016

A Fictional Story about Onesimus from Paul's Letter to Philemon

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

"Which" A Poem on the Letter to the Romans