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Onesimus

Philemon's runaway slave, begotten in Paul's bonds and sent home as a brother beloved — the letter of Philemon is his story; travels with Tychicus carrying Colossians (Col 4:9). The name means useful, the wordplay of Philemon 11.

onesimusphilemoncolossians

What this page holds

Biography

Key Data
Era
1st century AD
Titles
Brother beloved
Tags
onesimus · philemon · colossians

Onesimus in Scripture

Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Onesimus.

Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions

Named alongside

Other people MannaFest has a page for whose name the text uses in Colossians 4 and Philemon 1. Each card shows the verse it came from. Scripture reuses names freely, so a page behind a name here may belong to another person who shares it.

ArchippusFellow-soldier addressed in Phlm 2, charged in Col 4:17 to take heed to the ministry received in the Lord.Colossians 4:17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
DemasPaul's fellow-worker (Col 4:14; Phlm 24) who later forsook him, having loved this present world (2 Tim 4:10) — the New…Colossians 4:14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
EpaphrasColossae's founding evangelist, the beloved fellow-servant from whom the church learned the gospel (Col 1:7), always st…Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
LukeThe beloved physician and companion of Paul; careful historian of the orderly account — the Gospel of Luke and the Acts…Colossians 4:14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
ApphiaAddressed with Philemon and Archippus (Phlm 2), traditionally his wife — "Apphia our sister."Philemon 1:2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
BarnabasThe Levite from Cyprus whom the apostles nicknamed son of encouragement; he vouched for Saul when nobody in Jerusalem w…Colossians 4:10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
PhilemonColossian believer with a church in his house, owner of Onesimus, recipient of Paul's most personal canonical letter —…Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
TimothyThe young disciple from Lystra, son of a believing Jewish mother and a Greek father, who joined Paul on the second jour…Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

Studies that meet Onesimus

These studies quote a verse that names Onesimus.

Philemon — the Study GuidePhilemon 1:10
Studies working in the same chapters3

These do not quote a verse naming Onesimus; they open other passages in the same chapters.

The Seven Churches of RevelationColossians 4Put That on Mine Account — ImputationPhilemon 1The Bible and SlaveryPhilemon 1

Where this leads

The people of Scriptureevery character study on MannaFestRead the textthe whole Bible, book by book