The planned departure of Onesimus
Bruinooge provides exegetical analysis of Paul's letter to Philemon, examining the historical context of slavery in the Roman empire and the conversion of the slave Onesimus. The article illustrates how Scripture addresses the transformation of sinful human relationships through God's sovereign grace and the practical outworking of Christian love and reconciliation.
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever. Philemon 15 "A runaway slave only runs away once." This was the common, unsettling refrain in the Roman empire, for slaves were necessary to drive the economy. They made up 20-25% of the population and, according to Roman law, they had no rights and were mere property. The New Testament canon reveals the story of a thieving, runaway slave named Onesimus; yet one who is described as a "faithful and...
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