Colossians 4:9

“With Onesimus, etc.] Who had been Philemon's servant, ran away from him, and was met with and converted by the Apostle Paul, of whom he says many things in his epistle to his master. According to the Apostolic Constitutions, he was afterwards bishop of Beyrhoea; and some say he suffered martyrdom under Domitian; a servant of this name is mentioned by Suetonius f58, Ignatius f59 speaks of one Onesimus as bishop of Ephesus, but not the same with this, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you; either one of their ministers, as Epaphras was, (<510312>Colossians 3:12) or one of their city, who was originally a native of that place; and which the apostle mentions, the more to recommend…”

“Onesimus--the slave mentioned in the Epistle to Philemon (Plm 1:10, Plm 1:16), "a brother beloved." a faithful . . . brother--rather, "the faithful brother," he being known to the Colossians as the slave of Philemon, their fellow townsman and fellow Christian. one of you--belonging to your city. They shall make known unto you all things--Greek, "all the things here." This substantial repetition of "all my state shall Tychicus declare unto you," strongly favors the reading of English Version in Col 4:8, "that he might (may) know your state," as it is unlikely the same thing should be stated thrice.”

“With Onesimus - Who had been formerly a servant of Philemon, an inhabitant of Colossae; see the notes at Philemon 1:10. Onesimus had probably been recently converted; and Paul felt toward him the warm attachment of a brother; Philemon 1:16. In what way he became acquainted with him is unknown. A more full account of him will be found in the notes at the Epistle to Philemon. Who is one of you - That is, either who is from your city, or one of your own people and nation. It is clear from this, that Onesimus was from Phrygia, and probably from the city of Colossae itself. It would seem also that he was of a higher rank than is designated by the word “slave” now. He was, indeed, a “servant”…”

“4:9 Onesimus was the runaway slave whom Paul was sending back to his master Philemon (see the book of Philemon).”

“Onesimus: Col 4:7; Plm 1:10-19 Colossians 4:10”