-Wonderful backstory here. Onesimus had been a slave, belonging to a member of the Colossian assembly named Philemon (yes, the same one to whom Paul sent a letter which is now the epistle which bears his name. That letter actually accompanied this one). Onesimus ran away, which would never look good on any resumé, but is making good on it now because 1) he has since begun following Christ and 2) gotten connected with Paul (the two are related - Philemon 10). We learn from that other letter that Paul is primarily responsible for sending Onesimus back to Colossae - he wants to keep Onesimus with him (which says volumes about Onesimus), but he needs to clear it with Philemon first. Turn out that Onesimus, this former runaway, has been transformed into one who is both faithful and beloved (like Tychicus) and is part of this trusted delegation Paul sent to Colossae. He is a prime example of how no life is so far gone that God cannot redeem it. Nothing is too difficult for this One Who made all things and defeated death and daily does that which is exceedingly unimaginable. Trust Him to do it, whatever your it may be, keep trusting Him, and watch out...!
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