The apostle Paul had a sense of humor. Well, that might be a little too strong a statement. It may be better to say that there was a good-natured side to the man, at least in his later years.

For the most part, Paul’s epistles seem to have common threads woven into their fabric. They offer words of encouragement to the faithful, admonition to those who are struggling with doctrine, and carry stern warnings, reprimands or censures for those who commit grievous sin. There is one exception. It is a short personal letter he dashed off to Philemon, a wealthy member of the Church in Colossae. If you turn the Bible’s pages rapidly, you’ll skip right over it. At 431 words it isn’t the shortest book in the Bible (3 John has 280 words and 2 John has 285) but it is the shortest of Paul’s writings. It may also be his most heartfelt.

After extending a warm greeting to Philemon and his wife Apphia, as well as the small branch of the church that apparently meets in Philemon’s home, he takes up the subject of the epistle. The letter’s main purpose is to encourage Philemon to take back a slave who has run away from him. The slave’s name is Onesimus, or by interpretation, “Useful.” In modern day verbiage, Paul writes, “On behalf of Useful, who in times past was useless to you, but is now useful to you and me….” It’s a clever play on words, one which gives a peephole glimpse into Paul’s sometimes playful nature.

Onesimus, My Son, is a novel based on that useful slave.