Onesimus

7Tychicus will tell you all my news. He is a dear brother. He is a helper you can trust, and he serves the Lord with me.

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

NoteBrother here does not mean someone from your own family. Christians called each other brother and sister. Tychicus was the friend who carried this letter. There was no mail, so a person walked it to the church.

8That is why I am sending him to you. He can find out how you are doing. And he can cheer up your hearts.

Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9Onesimus is coming with him. He is a dear brother we can trust, and he is one of your own people. The two of them will tell you everything that is happening here.

With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

NoteOnesimus came from Colossae, the town getting this letter. That is why Paul calls him one of your own people.

8Because I belong to Christ, I could be bold and simply tell you what is right to do.

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

NoteIn old English, "convenient" meant the right thing to do. It did not mean the easy thing to do.

9But because I love you, I would rather ask you kindly. I am Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.

Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Note"Beseech" means to ask someone kindly, almost like begging. Paul is asking his friend, not giving him an order.

10I am asking you about Onesimus. He is like a son to me. I became his father while I was in chains.

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

NoteOnesimus was a slave in Philemon's house, and he had gone away. Later he met Paul and came to trust Jesus. "Bonds" means chains. Prisoners were often chained up, sometimes to a guard. Paul was not his father by birth. He calls himself Onesimus's father because Onesimus came to trust Jesus through him.

11In the past he was no use to you. But now he is useful to you and to me.

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

NoteIn their language, the name Onesimus meant "useful." So Paul is playing with his friend's name here.

12I am sending him back to you. Please welcome him. He is very dear to my heart.

Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13I would have liked to keep him here with me. He could have helped me in your place while I am in chains for the good news.

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14But I did not want to do anything unless you agreed. Then your kind act would be your own choice, not something you had to do.

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15Maybe this is why he was away from you for a while. Now you can have him back for good.

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16He is not just a slave now. He is more than a slave. He is a dear brother. He is dear to me, and even more dear to you, both as a person and as a fellow believer.

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

NoteA slave was a person who was owned by someone else. Slaves had to work and were not paid. Many people lived this way back then. "In the flesh" means in everyday life at home.

17If you count me as your partner, then welcome him just as you would welcome me.

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Charge it to me.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

NoteHere "ought" means anything at all. "Put that on mine account" is money talk. It means: write the debt under my name, and I will pay it.

19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back. I will not even mention that you owe me your own life.

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

NotePaul usually told a helper what words to write down. Here he picks up the pen himself. Writing in his own hand made it a real promise, like signing your name.

20Yes, brother, do this kind thing for me in the Lord. Cheer up my heart in Christ.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

NoteAgain, "bowels" means the deep place inside where you feel things. "In the Lord" is Paul's way of saying this is between people who belong to the Lord.

21I am sure you will do what I ask, so I am writing to you. I know you will do even more than I say.

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.