The Theme of Conversion in Paul’s Letter to Philemon (Pao)

  David Pao's commentary on Philemon has been helpful for me as I've preached through this letter Paul wrote to Philemon and the church that met in his (Philemon's) house.  Today I read Pao's concluding application remarks and found some good and appropriate points based on Paul's appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother …

I Paul Write This With My Hand…

  In Philemon 19 it says: "I, Paul, write with my hand: I will repay..."  Paul is telling Philemon that if his runaway slave Onesimus owes him (Philemon) anything, he (Paul) will for sure repay whatever it is to help restore the relationship between the two.  It's interesting that Paul notes he's writing at this …

Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus (Baugh)

 While imprisoned in Rome (or possibly Ephesus) the apostle Paul wrote a letter to Philemon to address the situation about Onesimus, Philemon's slave who had most likely run away.  It seems as if Onesimus was not a Christian when he first met Paul (Philemon 1:10).  The question is, how and why did Onesimus end up …