Distinguished Producer Paul of Seattle Podcast Introduction Today is Epistles Sunday, and we’ll read the book of Philemon. It’s another one chapter book. Before reading the book, I’ll give you a brief introduction, then after the reading I’ll have some comments. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “Restitution.” Design: Steve Webb Comments on Philemon Onesimus was a slave, and I’ll address the issue of slavery in a moment. But first let’s talk about Paul’s letter to Philemon. In addressing the letter Paul says, “To Philemon our dearly loved coworker…” The entire letter is written within this framework. He does not come from his position as an apostle, but as a close friend.  Philemon lived in Colosse, and when Onesimus ran away, he made his way to Rome, where Paul was a prisoner of the Romans. Somehow Paul and Onesimus met, and Paul led him to the Lord. After this, Onesimus became a great help to Paul. Running away was a crime punishable by death, but once he became a Christian, Onesimus and Paul agree that Onesimus must return to Philemon as a way to make restitution. Legally, Onesimus was the property of Philemon. However, Paul appeals to Philemon as a beloved friend, asking that Philemon accept Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a fellow believer.  The name Onesimus means “profitable” or “useful”, and in his appeal, Paul makes a play on words, saying that Onesimus had been useless or unprofitable to Philemon in the past because he had run away, but now as a fellow believer he could truly live up to his name and be useful to both Philemon and Paul. Paul said that if Onesimus owed Philemon any money, he (Paul) would personally pay the debt. But he also gently reminded Philemon that he owed Paul his life, since Paul is the one who brought him to Christ.  Paul’s offer is a parallel of what Christ has done for us. We owed a debt that we could not pay, but Jesus took that debt upon Himself. Paul’s love for both Philemon and Onesimus is evident in this short letter, isn’t it? If the message of the Gospel could be boiled down, it’s all about forgiveness. And Paul, who at one time persecuted Christians, even to the point of holding the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen to death, could speak first-hand about being forgiven. Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision, as he was headed to Damascus on another mission to persecute Christians and asked him, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” I won’t recount the whole story here,