The ABC's of the Bible- Onesimus

Onesimus- (Greek for "useful") the slave of Philemon from Colossae (Col. 4:9).

"When Onesimus fled from his master to Rome, he met the apostle Paul. Paul witnessed to him, and Onesimus became a Christian. In his letter to Philemon, Paul spoke of Onesimus as “my own heart” (Philem. 12), indicating that Onesimus had become like a son to him.
Paul convinced Onesimus to return to his master, Philemon. He also sent a letter with Onesimus [known to us as the book of Philemon], encouraging Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother rather than a slave. Paul implied that freeing Onesimus was Philemon’s Christian duty, but he stopped short of commanding him to do so. Onesimus accompanied Tychicus, who delivered the Epistle to the Colossians as well as the Epistle to Philemon." -Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

"For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord." (Philemon 15-16)