The theme of freedom runs throughout “Onesimus: The Fugitive Who Found Grace,” but the word freedom isn’t found in the book of Philemon.
In the Biblical context, freedom is an unwritten part of the story. Instead of using the Greek word for “free,” Paul emphasized love over law and brotherhood over ownership. Legally, Onesimus returned as a slave, but with a new identity. Thus, there was a change in the relationship status between Philemon and Onesimus. They were now brothers in Christ.
Was it too much to assume that Onesimus left Philemon in search of worldly freedom and that he encountered Paul in Rome while searching for spiritual freedom?
I think those are safe assumptions. Why? Because that is the human story. We are all enslaved by sin and our common mistake is to think and act as if the things of this world will set us free. We think control equals freedom, when true freedom only comes from full surrender to God. It’s one of the great paradoxes of Scripture.
If you are interested in what the Word of God says about freedom and how it applies to the story of Onesimus, click this link to the “Freedom Verses” page of my website.
Leave a Reply