He requests Philemon to receive him as his own child. He says that it was his desire to retain Onesimus, that he might act the same part in ministering to him in his bonds as Philemon would have done. But he did not desire his services unless Philemon should voluntarily set him free; for it might be in the providence of God that Onesimus had left his master for a season in so improper a manner, that, being converted, he might on his return be forgiven and received with such affection that he would choose to dwell with him ever after, “not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved.”{LP 286.2}

Hans anmoder Filemon at tage imod ham som sit eget barn. Han siger at det var hans ønske at beholde Onesimus, så han kan udrette det samme, i hans tjeneste som Filemon ville have gjort. Men han ønskede ikke hans tjenesters, medmindre Filemon frivilligt satte ham fri; for det kan være i Guds forsyn at Onesimus havde forladt sin mester for en stund på en så forkert måde, at han, under hans omvendelse, vender tilbage for tilgivelse og modtages af en sådan kærlighed at han vil vælge at bo hos ham for altid, "da ikke mere som en træl, men som noget langt mere end en træl: som en elsket broder."