Philemon 1:10-12 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him-- who is my very heart-- back to you.
This is an appeal letter by Paul to Philemon to forgive, free and accept back with love the runaway slave Onesimus, not as a slave anymore but as an equal fellow believer in light of Onesimus recent conversion. I note that Onesimus is probably the slave to whom Colossians 4:9 refers. In that letter, Paul calls this “slave” a brother, faithful and beloved, and gave him an important task in delivering letters with Tychicus. This means that Onesimus was faithful and sincere to be a worker approved by the Lord for the service of His Kingdom (2 Timothy 2:15). He was learning and being disciple to be useful for God’s kingdom under Paul’s guidance as his spiritual father. He is sincerely a new person in Christ! But will others accept him as one?
Here in his letter to Philemon, Paul exercised a play of words on the name Onesimus which meant “useful”, thus Paul pointed out the radical transformation that has occurred in Onesimus’ life. Moreover, Paul continued the play of words by using the Greek word achrestos, which is very close to “without Christ,” for “useless.” Similarly, he uses euchrestos, which is very close to “good [in] Christ,” for “useful.” (Jason Hood, Stewardship Bible Study Notes).
I guess the point Paul was trying to make is that Onesimus has been transformed in every way since he is now in Christ and that he is now of great use for the kingdom despite his past wrong doing. Perhaps Paul is also teaching us today that we should forgive and free whatever grudges we may have on a person who had hurt or wrong us before yet now is a sincere and faithful fellow believer. We are also to accept with love and recognition that the person is now under Christ as his Lord just as we are.
As God forgave and transformed us from a useless sinner to a useful believer of Christ, we shall treat others with the same grace. Thus, as fellow servants we are to serve together with unity, love and forgiveness of whatever past wrong, that we all may be free to live a new life and be of greater use for God’s Kingdom.
