Colossians 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known to you all things which are done here. was a native, or certainly an inhabitant, of Colossi, since Paul refers to him as "one of you." This confirms the presumption which his name affords that he was a Gentile. Slaves were numerous in Phrygia, and the very name Phrygian was almost synonymous with that of slave. Hence it happened that in writing to the Colossians (Colossians 3:22-4:1) Paul had to instruct them concerning the duties of servants and masters towards each other. Onesimus was one of this unfortunate class of persons, who escaped from his master and fled to Rome, where in the midst of its vast population he could hope to be concealed, and to baffle the efforts which were so often made in such cases for retaking the fugitive. Whether he had any other motive for the flight than the natural love of liberty we have not the means of deciding. It has been generally supposed that he had committed some offence, as theft or embezzlement, and feared the punishment of his guilt (Philemon 1:18). Though it may be doubted whether Onesimus heard the gospel for the first time in Rome, it is beyond question that he was led to embrace the gospel there through the apostle's instrumentality (Philemon 1:10). As there were believers in Phrygia when the apostle passed through the region on his third missionary journey (Acts 18:23), and as Onesimus belonged to a Christian household (Philemon 1:2), it is not improbable that he knew something of Christian doctrine before he went to Rome. How long a time elapsed between his escape and his conversion we cannot decide. After the latter event, however, the most happy and friendly relations sprang up between the teacher and the disciple. The situation of the apostle must have made him keenly alive to the sympathies of Christian friendship, and dependent upon others for various services. Onesimus appears to have supplied this want in an eminent degree. He won entirely the apostle's heart, and made himself so useful that Paul wished to keep him, and yielded him up only in obedience to that sensitive regard for the feelings and rights of others of which his conduct on this occasion was a conspicuous example. The traditional notices of Onesimus are not of great value. Some of the later fathers assert that Onesimus was set free and became Bishop of Beroea, and that he made his way to Rome again and died a martyr under Nero. (H. B. Hackett, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. |
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