23 Aug Onesimus and Philemon: A Redeemed Relationship

23 August 2023

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

ONESIMUS AND PHILEMON: A REDEEMED RELATIONSHIP

Epistle of Paul to Philemon

Today, 23rd August, is celebrated as the international day for the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition. On this day, we remember not only the causes and consequences of the slave trade but also the active agency of the enslaved people who laboured hard for its abolition. This is not just a simple remembrance, but one that drives us into action so that the oppressive legacies of the slave trade can be countered, and justice becomes a lived reality. This is precisely what the Onesimus Project of the Council of World Mission seeks to achieve. CWM remembers that its mission understanding was complicit with colonisation, enslavement, and racism. However, the project drives CWM onto a path of self-reflection where the dialectic between the past and the present form of slavery helps it to develop insights rooted in justice for overcoming slavery.

Philemon vs. 15-16 show that the master, Philemon, should regard his slave, Onesimus, not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. It is the relationship between the slave and the master in Christ that has rendered them equal.

The person of Onesimus (a slave) and the question of slavery in the early church was addressed by Paul in this letter. Slavery was a common practice in the Roman world, and the early church lived with it. Being the slave of Philemon, Onesimus had no rights whatsoever. It was a relationship that was based on oppression. However, Paul reverses this oppressive relationship by pointing out to Philemon that as he is serving Christ, his slave is also serving Christ. Hence, they stand equal before God in their service of Christ. In a context where slavery was a common practice, the epistle of Paul to Philemon sowed the seeds for its abolition by considering ‘master’ and ‘slave’ as equal partners before God.

Based on equality, Paul intercedes with Philemon to welcome Onesimus back. Paul’s intercession was rooted in justice as he invites Philemon to see how God’s love can manifest itself practically in his life. Since God has loved Philemon and Onesimus equally, the unjust relationship between the ‘slave’ and the ‘master’ is transformed by providing a sense of freedom to Onesimus and a course of correction for Philemon. Paul urges Philemon to remember his oppressive relationship with Onesimus, but

now, based on Christ’s love, it needs to be transformed. Paul urges Philemon to treat Onesimus as his co-worker. Here Paul concretely identifies himself with Onesimus. The ‘slave’ and ‘master’ become equals, and a fellowship is established where God, Christ and humanity are weaved together in equality, love, care and concern.

In the Indian context, Dalits, Tribal and Adivasis experience the horrors of slavery in a very different way. They are considered impure because of the discriminatory nature of the caste system and denied fundamental human rights. Paul’s identification with Onesimus reminds us that, as a church, we must identify ourselves with the victims of oppression. Such identification would lead us to the liberation God intends for the suffering.

prayer

God of justice and freedom, open our eyes to see the modern forms of slavery, give us the wisdom to understand how it operates in our own world, and give us the courage to establish just relationships for the good of all. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!

for further thought

How do we encounter and expose modern manifestations of slavery in our own context? Who benefits from it? What does God’s love mean for the victims of slavery?

Sudipta Singh

Council for World Mission