nesimus
as one of the bearers of the epistle. He speaks of him as "one of you,"
a resident with us; and he calls this slave "a faithful and beloved
brother." He speaks to Philemon about him as "my son Onesimus whom I
have begotten in my bonds;" "thou therefore receive him, that is, mine
own bowels." "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother
beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the
flesh and in the Lord." "If thou count me, therefore, a partner, receive
him as myself."

"'What a comment is this on the words: "In Christ Jesus there is neither
bond nor free." Not that there shall be "no bond," according to the
brother's interpretation; for then it would be equally right to
interpret the other part of the passage literally,--there is no Jew, no
Greek, and none free! How perfectly does the relation become absorbed by
that state of heart which makes it proper for Paul to say: "Art thou
called being a servant, care not for it; but if thou mayest be made
free, use it rather." Notwithstanding this advice, he sends back this
man-servant.

"'Paul might have manumitted Onesimus by his authority as an apostle;
this, however, would have been rebellion against government, for our
laws recognize slavery.

"'My brother says that the Hebrew law forbade the surrender of a
fugitive slave. Yes, if the slave fled into Israel from a heathen
master, he must not be sent back to heathenism; but'--

"'But,' said the brother from Laodicea, 'there is no limitation of that
kind. I insist that it was of universal application to slaves of all
kinds.'

"'Find the passage, if you please (in Deut. xxiii.),' said the Colossian
speaker.

"The passage was found by the pastor, and was read, as already quoted:
'Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant that is escaped from
his master unto thee. He shall dwell with thee even among you, in that
place which he shall choose in one of thy gates where it liketh him
best; thou shalt not oppress him.' Deut. xxiii. 10, 15.

"'Now,' said Theodotus, 'it is absurd to say that God proclaimed to all
the servants throughout Israel, If any of you are dissatisfied, for any
cause, and wish to run away, you may do so; and wherever you wish to
live, the people-of that place shall provide a residence for you. After
being there for ever so short a time, if you do not like it, you may
flee again; and so keep moving all your lifetime, the people everywhere
being obliged to all