Library Home>All Subjects>O Subjects>Onesimus

Onesimus

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(useful). Slave of Philemon, at Colosse, in whose behalf Paul wrote the epistle to Philemon (Col. 4:9⁹With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. (Colossians 4:9); Philem. 1:10,15¹⁰I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: (Philemon 10)
¹⁵For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (Philemon 15)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Slave of Philemon, converted when with Paul, and sent back to his master not simply as a servant, but as “a brother beloved” (Col. 4:9⁹With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. (Colossians 4:9); Philem. 1:10¹⁰I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: (Philemon 10)). Christianity did not come in to set the world right thus: Onesimus was sent back to his master, and slaves are elsewhere exhorted to be faithful to their masters; but slavery is doubtless one of the fruits of man’s sin.

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

3682 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

Ὀνήσιμος

Transliteration:

Onesimos

Phonic:

on-ay’-sim-os

Meaning:

from 3685; profitable; Onesimus, a Christian

KJV Usage:

Onesimus

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

profitable

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

Useful; profitable:―slave or servant of Philemon, Philem. 1:10. {Utilis}