Go Back Into Slavery!

After traveling with Onesimus for a while, Paul sent him back to Philemon to re-enslave him. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 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?^{Philemon 1:10-16}

The word 'servant' is translated from the greek doulos, Strong's G1401. It literally means 'slave.'

In our modern day, it is hard to be reconciled with this passage. Slavery in the Americas has been abolished since 1888, when Brazil outlawed it. It is hard for many readers to transport themselves back two thousand years, when Paul wrote this letter, to understand how Paul could do this, since we mostly live in a post-slavery world. So, rather than attempt to describe that, we will instead look to see what the law has to say about someone in Paul and Onesimus's position.

It is recorded in Deuteronomy, Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which 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.^{Deuteronomy 23:15, 16}

Now Paul was a Jew, a Pharisee. Paul must have known this commandment. Yet Paul still sent Onesimus back into slavery. How could Paul be so cold-hearted to deny God and send a man back into slavery?

Value of this Evidence

This is indefensible evidence for Paul being a false apostle. He disobeys the Lord and then sentences a man back into a harsh life. There is no excuse for this.