Onesimus - Transformed

By Reggie Howard, Gigmai Getru, Jacob Luiya and 4 more

Based on the backstory of a tiny letter in the Bible [Philemon], this real-life story is fleshed out with creative care.

Onesimus was in grave trouble. He was, after all, a thief and runaway slave. A worthless piece of "street trash" as far as anyone thought. He was wanted by the law and anyone who helped him risked trouble for themselves. One of the [literally] one-million anonymous faces in the ancient city of Rome.

There was a small but remarkable group of people also in Rome. They hung out at a rented house that was kept under guard by Roman soldiers. Their leader was under house arrest, awaiting trial as an enemy of the state. Large numbers of assorted people went in and out of the house day and night. They didn't come for gambling or drugs or booze. They came to hear the transforming message these people were freely passing on to all.

There is no way in the world that the one lonely fellow could ever meet up with those remarkable people in that house. Only a Divine Being could arrange such a thing, and what Divine Being would ever care about the self-inflicted loser, Onesimus.

Wait a minute . . .

Never underestimate the good things our Lord wants to do. We do know that Onesimus did indeed end up at that house. He heard the transforming message and experienced the truth himself. This wonderful occasion created a problem that the little letter to Philemon (Onesimus' master) intends to fix. Catch the beauty, tender care, and precision in that beautiful letter when put in its historical context and the occasion/mission for which it was drafted.

This eBook includes photographs and information about ancient Rome and Colossae.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9789980628039

Book preview

Rome.

1. Life in the Great City, 60 A.D.

Note: This chapter develops in four progressive settings.

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Setting #1: Downtown Rome, The centre of the ancient world.

Rome, oh Rome! City of the Gods; Ancient in time; City of opportunity; Streets of gold, where the wealth of the world is, and everyone is rich!

How very wrong I was.

It turns out that Rome is a city of cockroaches, rats and dogs. The streets are full of sick beggars, thieves, slaves and soldiers. I am completely lost, just a face in the crowd. What do I do now?

Food and sleep have escaped me since I left home. The 170 km trip to the coast was frightful. I had to move quickly but stay clear of soldiers on foot and horse.

Ephesus is too small and too close to home. Someone will recognize me and my hopes would be dashed. So I boarded a ship and here I am at the centre of the world. No way was I prepared for this!

I spend my first night under the back corner of a building. How can I escape being robbed by one of the knife-wielding criminals? Sleep will not come.

This is a detailed model of Ancient Rome

The morning sun towers angrily above the ancient buildings. It casts shadows of frightful images of old heroes and emperors, mocking the crowds of all sorts of people from around the world who reside in this city of a million souls. The streets quickly fill up as they come for their daily activities. I must find somewhere else to live.

It is June, the height of summer. The street that enters the main market is clogged with carts and baskets full of fresh and dried fruits. I slip out a few coins and buy some figs, pomegranates and an apple. I wander off against the incoming crowds on The Appian Way, feeling more alone than ever.

I leave the city by passing through the Cervian Wall. I am amazed at this road I am walking on and realize, now, why it is so famous. It is made of large stones that were chiselled flat on the surface and pieced together in perfect fit. You couldn’t even press a knife between the stones! It is a little higher in the middle and lower on the sides for water to drain off and good drains on both sides. They say this road continues for 560 kilometres!

The Appian Way was build so well that it survives to this day.

As I walked further from the city I started to shudder and shake. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of dread. It was then that I remembered the other thing I had learned about this road. It was right along here, around 130 years ago, that a total of 6,000 slaves were crucified at once. They stood the crosses and performed the executions along this public road to make a statement to all the people of my class: Obey your masters no matter what, and don’t even think about rebelling. Crucifixion is the absolute most awful way to die; no one could ever accept such a fate. And here I am, a runaway slave, who is likely to join those 6,000 brothers, if or when I get caught.

Setting #2: One of the many caves (catacombs) just outside the city.

Things have gone from bad to worse. It is late July now. I had shelter for a while when I met some guys and shared my money with them. I went job hunting every day. I have skills. I read and write, and I keep accounts. But no one will hire a stranger they don’t know, and I have no way to get references.

My last money is gone. My friends kicked me out. I have sunk to being a scavenger like the thousand other scavengers throughout the city.

My home is now a cave just outside Rome. The criminal gang lets me come and go even though I don’t join them in their raids. They know I won’t report them or I would get arrested too.

I came to Rome to experience the freedom that I heard so many discuss back home. But my hopes and dreams have vanished into thin air. I wish so badly to go back home, but this could never happen.

Rome in 60 A.D.

I used to fear someone would recognize me, but not anymore. I have grown very thin. I must look so frail and dirty to everyone. I used to be strong, well built, with white teeth, tidy hair, and bright clean skin.

I don’t know how much longer I can survive this life. Cold and disease have become my biggest fears. My body is too weak to fight them.

Time to head out again to check the rubbish piles – my only lifeline – for any edible food. My only