Philemon 1:10
“I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,”
What does Philemon 1:10 mean?
Paul is writing from prison about a man named Onesimus, who was formerly enslaved to Philemon but has now become a follower of Jesus through Paul's ministry. By calling Onesimus his spiritual child, Paul is expressing the depth of their bond and emphasizing that this formerly enslaved person has undergone a genuine spiritual transformation while imprisoned with Paul. The phrase "in my chains" reminds us that even in his most restricted circumstances, Paul's faith bore fruit in another person's life. This tender appeal sets up Paul's request that Philemon receive Onesimus back not as property, but as a beloved brother in Christ.