Paul wrote to Philemon to ask him to free a runaway

slave, whom he calls "Onesimus".

"For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to

command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal

to you on the basis of love - and I, Paul, do this as an old

man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am

appealing to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I

have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was

useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you

and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back

to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be

of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for

the gospel." Philemon 8-11

The runaway slave had come to Paul in prison and had thereby come to the faith. He had

become Paul's "child", so Paul had naming rights over him. He had become useful to

Paul, and Paul refers to him by the name "Onesimus", which means "useful". Either this

is a coincidence, or Paul had given him the new name, "Onesimus".

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