Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

Paul wrote many of the books of the New Testament his epistles, or letters while in prison at Rome, either chained to a post, a guard and sometimes allowed to move more freely teaching others of Jesus (Acts 28:14-24). So when he begins this letter to Philemon by saying, "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus," (Philemon 1:1), he was not only a prisoner by choice of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also a prisoner in Rome, physically, sharing time with a fellow prisoner, "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you," (Philemon 23), as he ends this epistle. Many did come to visit Paul in Rome such as Onesiphorus who helped him (2 Timothy 1:16), while some such as Demas deserted Paul for the world, and others caused him some problems such as Alexander the coppersmith, and some brethren were sent out to various works (2 Timothy 4:9-22). One, however, was sent back to his owner, because he had a debt to face up to with his master.

That brings us to our question, "Who is Philemon's slave?". Paul says one of his continuous concerns is for the welfare of the churches in standing fast (2 Corinthians 11:28), and it is no different for the work at Colosse that meet in Philemon's house (Philemon 2). One who once was a useful slave to Philemon became useless because he escaped from his house and went to Rome where he apparently sought for Paul and became useful for him, as Paul converted him to Christ (Philemon 10) and could now become useful for Philemon once again (Philemon 10-11). Paul says of the slave and master relationship, "Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine may not be spoken against. And let those who have believers as their masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but let them serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles." (1 Timothy 6:1-2), "Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a master in heaven." (Colossians 4:1). 

Though Paul's tender words to Philemon in the letter sent with his slave back to his master, Paul says he would pay any debt owned, but then reminds Philemon of the debt he owes to him for the spiritual debt of being turned to Christ (Philemon 15-21). And so for the answer to our question, we turn to verse ten, where we hear of Paul's appeal to Philemon concerning his slave, "I appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, Onesimus, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and me." (Philemon 10-11).

And so there we have the answer to our question as he is "Onesimus", now a fellow servant and prisoner of Jesus Christ by choice! Becoming a Christian did not change his station in this physical life. He was still a slave, and now a much better one as he has a mission in life to walk as He walked, performing his duties as a good steward of God.

May we be as courageous as Onesimus who was willing to face his master and the consequences of his own actions as we all should. Let us too, "Act like men" (1 Corinthians 16:13) for life!