The Story Behind My Novel Onesimus: Runaway Slave to Bishop – A Journey Through Ancient Manuscripts and Five Years of Research

My second novel, Onesimus: A Novel of Christianity in the Roman Empire, represents five years of intensive research. I delved deeply into the culture of ancient Rome, its financial systems, rigid class structures, urban organization, the intricate institution of slavery, coinage, daily food and customs, and much more. My goal was to craft a historical fiction novel that fully immerses readers in the vivid, complex world of the first-century Roman Empire.

The seed for this story came from a fascinating observation made by a scholar more than a century ago while studying the letters of Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius, a prominent early Christian leader, had been arrested and was being transported to Rome under guard to face martyrdom—likely by being thrown to wild animals in the Colosseum. Along the route, accompanied by Roman soldiers, he stopped to meet with local church communities. At each stop, he wrote encouraging letters to the churches he had visited or would soon address.

One of these letters was addressed to the church in Ephesus, where Ignatius mentions their bishop, named Onesimus. The name “Onesimus” was commonly given to slaves in the Greco-Roman world; it derives from the Greek word meaning “useful.” Intriguingly, the scholar noted that Ignatius plays on the meaning of the name in much the same way Paul does in his short New Testament letter to Philemon. Could this bishop Onesimus, the scholar wondered, possibly be the same runaway slave mentioned in Paul’s epistle—the one who fled from his master Philemon in Colossae, encountered the apostle Paul in Rome, and was sent back with a plea for reconciliation and freedom?

This hypothesis was captivating and entirely plausible when viewed through the lens of chronology and historical context. Roman slaves were not a monolithic group; they came from every corner of the empire and could achieve manumission (freedom) through various means—purchase, favor from their owners, military service, or other paths. We know from Paul’s letter that Onesimus was Philemon’s slave in Colossae, that he escaped, and that he ultimately met Paul (likely in Rome), where their interaction led to a profound transformation.

I found the idea irresistible as the foundation for a compelling work of historical fiction set in ancient Rome. I began my research with the Letter to Philemon itself, examining scans of the oldest surviving New Testament manuscripts to study the original Greek text and the nuances of the words in their first-century context. From there, I expanded into broader historical sources, building a rich tapestry of details to bring the era to life.

This project was long and demanding, but profoundly rewarding for me as a writer—and I hope it will be equally engaging and enlightening for readers. The novel not only explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and social transformation in the early Christian movement but also paints an authentic portrait of life under Roman rule.

Below are examples of two of the oldest surviving manuscripts containing (or related to) the Book of Philemon.

Papyrus 46 (dated around 200 CE) is the earliest substantial witness to much of Paul’s letters, including Philemon. Unfortunately, the manuscript is incomplete at the end; the final preserved sections cover up to 1 Thessalonians, with Philemon likely appearing on now-lost leaves. Here are representative high-resolution images of its Pauline epistle pages, showcasing the ancient papyrus texture, double columns, and early Greek uncial script:

These ancient documents remind us how fragile yet enduring the biblical text has been. If you’re interested in exploring the historical roots of early Christianity through immersive storytelling, I invite you to discover Onesimus.

To visit the Codex Sinaiticus webpage, and examine some of the later documents that include the entire book of Philemon, click on the images above.

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