Colossians 4:9

together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that are done here.

'TOGETHER WITH ONESIMUS' -Who was accompanying Tychicus.

'ONESIMUS' -3682. Onesimos on-ay'-sim-os; from 3685; profitable; Onesimus,. Christian: -Onesimus.

-(oh NESS ih muss).

From this letter, and the letter to Philemon we learn: He was. slave of Philemon and. native of Colossae ('who is one of you' (Colossians 4:9; Philemon 1:10). He had runaway from Philemon, and had been. very poor slave in the past (Philemon 1:11). He had come to Rome and in the process had ran into Paul, and was converted (Philemon 1:10). Paul would have loved to keep Onesimus with him as. co-worker, but realized that he needed to send Onesimus back to Philemon (Philemon 1:13).

'THE FAITHFUL AND BELOVED BROTHER' -The same terms used of Tychicus (Colossians 4:7). 'Whatever may have been his delinquencies as. slave of Philemon, he is now commended as. faithful brother-- one the genuineness of whose Christianity might be safely trusted.' (Eadie p. 281) 'Whom the Colossians had known only as the worthless, runaway slave.' (Vincent p. 511)

'WHO IS ONE OF YOU' -'Colossae being either the place of his birth or his ordinary abode.' (Eadie p. 282)

'THEY SHALL MAKE KNOWN UNTO YOU ALL THINGS THAT ARE DONE HERE' -Onesimus also has personal information to impart.

Points to Note:

1. The conversion of Onesimus, also could cause some problems. How would people treat him? Would they hold the past against him? Would they say, 'Once. useless slave, always. useless slave?' What about the other slaves in the household who hadn't ran away? Would they have the attitude of the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son? (Luke 15:25) What about those slaves that might have been punished in the past? Would they resent the fact that Onesimus wouldn't be punished?

2. Our response to the gospel can make. big difference whether other members really accept us or not. Paul points out that the conversion of Onesimus was genuine, he was sincere, he had really changed. He had become. very hard worker for the kingdom of God. So useful had he become, that Paul was hesitant to let him go. This should remind people that if others don't believe that we have really repented, then maybe our repentance doesn't look sincere (2 Corinthians 7:10).

3. People can change! (1 Corinthians 6:9) We aren't told why Onesimus ran away in the first place. But it seems clear that he was. man filled with wrong thoughts and attitudes. The religion of Christ Jesus had transformed him inside and out. So much so, that Onesimus had the courage to go back to the people he had wronged and entrust himself to their forgiveness and care.

4. And that change can be drastic. The once useless slave is now. very profitable one.. man with. new purpose in life,. man with. higher ethic for living and serving his master.

5. Becoming. Christian doesn't automatically erase all the physical consequences of our previous sins. Even though he is forgiven, Onesimus still has past failures to face up to. Paul doesn't believe that circumstances are what determine how "faithful" you become. Paul sends this Christian back to. stressful set of circumstances. He sends him back to the community that knew his sin.

Bruce notes, 'Onesimus was now in good standing as. church member...He would therefore naturally receive from the Colossian church the same welcome as would be given to any other visiting Christian...Onesimus's welcome by the whole church of Colossae, on Paul's commendation, would be. powerful lever for Philemon's acceptance of him too.' (p. 177)

GREETINGS FROM JEWISH CHRISTIANS: