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"I appeal to you for my son Onesimus..."

Text: Philemon 10

THE SPIRITUAL SONS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul acknowledged two people as his sons. They are addressed as “sons” in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are Timothy and Titus. Paul wrote to them personal letters encouraging them in their ministries as pastors. These documents are known as Pastoral Epistles.

In the letter to Philemon, Paul made mention of one more spiritual son. We read about him in the following text.

“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,
whom I have begotten while in my chains.”
Philemon 10

1. “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus”

a) Onesimus is publicly acknowledged as Paul’s son.

b) It is no small thing to be called a son of the illustrious Apostle Paul.

c) The same word “son” (Greek “teknon”) was used by Paul when he wrote the Pastoral Epistles.

i) Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2)

ii) Titus (Titus 1:4)

2. “Whom I have begotten while in my chains”

a) The story of Timothy

i) Timothy was groomed by Paul (Acts 16:1-3).

ii) He proved himself a good labourer.

iii) In time he became a spiritual son that Paul loved dearly.

b) The story of Titus

i) The Scriptures do not tell us much about how Titus came into the picture.

ii) But like Timothy he proved himself a faithful worker.

iii) He too was a trusted spiritual son.

c) The story of Onesimus

i) Paul must have personally led him to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

ii) Onesimus met Paul in prison.

iii) He was actually a slave.

iv) He must have gotten into trouble and was sent to prison.

v) Onesimus learned to love and honour Paul as his spiritual father.

d) Paul now was writing a very deeply personal letter to Philemon.

He was going to make an appeal to Philemon on behalf of his new but genuine spiritual son.