Today, in the final matchup of the first full week of Lent Madness 2025, Onesimus takes on Philip the Deacon and Evangelist as we head deep into the New Testament.
Yesterday, Mechthild of Magdeburg swept to victory over Ninian 66% to 34% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen against…
Enjoy a couple days of respite — though do plan to lobby all your church friends at coffee hour on who to vote for next week — and we’ll see you bright and early Monday morning as Quiteria takes on Rose of Lima.
Vote now!
Onesimus
Onesimus is the rare saint who has an entire letter written about him in the New Testament; yet, for all that, remarkably little else is known about him. The letter Paul writes to Philemon tells us about an enslaved person, Onesimus, who has met Paul and become Christian while both were in jail. Onesimus has ended up there for some offense against his enslaver (probably theft) as well as for trying to escape. Paul decides to take this opportunity to apply some pastoral guilt to Philemon in service of Onesimus, and ever-so-gently reminds him that Onesimus is now a baptized Christian and is returning of his own will back to Philemon, utterly overcome with Christian love and guilt. WOULDN’T IT BE NICE, Paul gently inquires, in a manner not unlike a character from The Sopranos, or that one Southern lady at the church coffee hour, IF PHILEMON FREED ONESIMUS IN RETURN? SO NICE. Has Paul also mentioned that Onesimus saved Paul’s own life, and become utterly indispensable to him? Because that also happened. Again, no pressure. You do what you want, Philemon. Paul is fine. Paul makes no demands. Paul is just over here, hanging out in prison, while you, Philemon, ponder what to do with the new life in Christ that Paul obtained for you. Please think well of Paul when you receive word of his death, which will no doubt be soon, etc.
We don’t precisely know what happened to Onesimus after this letter. There are several traditions which record that an Onesimus did go on to become the bishop of Ephesus, after Timothy. Ignatius of Antioch records that someone named Onesimus became bishop there, and then was imprisoned during a Roman persecution, and finally martyred around 68 CE. Ignatius speaks extremely highly of him in his writings, which would align well with an image of Onesimus as someone who followed the Gospel’s promise of freedom all the way from slavery to the episcopate to a martyr’s death.
Collect for Onesimus
God whose vision for your creation is wholeness and freedom, we thank you for your servant Onesimus, who found usefulness and liberty in following the call of the gospel. Guide us in recognizing the ways in which we limit ourselves and others from the abundance of life you intend for us and lead us all to that heavenly place where you reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Philip, Deacon and Evangelist
Philip, Deacon and Evangelist (not to be confused with the Apostle, which happens quite frequently), is a pivotal figure in the Book of Acts. He plays a key role in the narrative at three inflection points.
In Acts 6, the twelve apostles are torn between the work of proclaiming the gospel and of serving the needs of people in their fledgling communities. Perhaps curiously, the twelve do not want to be bothered by menial tasks like making sure that widows are not neglected in the distribution of food. (And don’t get me started on the conflict between Hebrews and Hellenists.)
To solve this problem, they appoint seven men to handle this task. Philip is among those selected. The apostles lay their hands on Philip and the other six men and commission them to do the work of caring for widows. We never see Philip do this work. (But we can assume he did this work and did it well. “Deacon” is in his title, after all.).
We next meet Philip in Samaria in Acts 8. He is proclaiming “the word” and healing people and casting out demons. His message is so compelling that even a corrupt magician, Simon Magus, believes and is baptized. Philip has now become an evangelist. Curiously, it is not until after Peter and John visit that the believers in Samaria are able to receive the Holy Spirit.
Shortly after their visit, an angel sends Philip south from Jerusalem to Gaza. On this wilderness road, Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official to the queen of the Ethiopians. Philip explains the gospel to him, and he requests to be baptized on the spot. As soon as they emerged from the water, Philip was “snatched away” to Azotus. (See Acts 8:26-39 for the delightful story.)
Philip eventually settles in Caesarea. We get one final brief mention of him in Acts 21:8-9, when Paul visits Caesarea and stays in Philip’s home. We are told there that Philip had four unmarried daughters who were all prophets.
Some traditions hold that he later became the Bishop of Tralles in Lydia.
Collect for Philip, Deacon and Evangelist
O God, who has made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that we, following the example of your servant Philip, may bring your Word to those who seek you, for the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
56 comments on “Onesimus vs Philip, Deacon and Evangelist”
Now with Philip, let’s stick to the facts:
Dauntless deacon who nothing distracts,
Showing spirit to spare
For conversion and care:
He’s a star in both 6th and 8th Acts!
Much as I love Philip's story, I am voting for the possibility of transformation as exemplified in the life of Onesimus. I also particularly enjoyed the write up for Onesimus and will view Paul in a new light now.
Voting for Philip, in honor of the Deacons who serve in my parish. The story of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch has always been a favorite of mine.
Onesimus was strong
Onesimus got a letter
Vote for Onesimus
Because he is beter
Almost tied at 375 votes - this one should be interesting.
I think Onesimus shows the value of being strong and how we should all show forgiveness. Onesimus felt more relatable and something we can all do compared to Phillip 🙂
stop voting Phillip now
all vote onesimus
I don't understand how
you don't see that he is better than us
Voting for Onesimus today. He is a reminder to let go of judgement of all who are incarcerated. May we always be guided in working to help create God’s vision for creation, wholeness and freedom.
How can you beat Onesimus' journey in faith? Onesimus all the way!
While the apostles were going for the glory Philip was doing the hard work of caring for his neighbors.
Please Update the 2025 Bracket. Seems to me it would be the first thing to do!!!
Oh my gosh - Paul, the Jewish mother. Love the write up! But voted for Philip, anyway, in honor of all the wonderful deacons I know and the parish I once served.
Voted for Onesimus. Because of
- Megan Castellan’s Collect for Onesimus
- His extraordinary faith story
- How scary it must have been to be in prison and accused as an enslaved person in the Roman Empire and how vulnerable that must have made him
- My belief that like the Exodus story, liberation frees us to do God’s work (whether it be from addiction, materialism, actual slavery as in this case, etc)
I wish we knew the end of his story, whether he was indeed manumitted and went on to become a leader in the nascent Christian community . . . or whether he faced some other fate.
For the first time, I am not going to select one of the 2. Neither is of a caliber to be considered wining the Golden Halo. I do not understand today's choice of candidates.
Onesimus gets my vote because going from criminal slave to martyred bishop is just too cool!
Philip. Because deacon. ‘Nuff said.
I attended a Catholic girls' prep school where the nuns were adept at this type of guilt thing. Since I belong to a church which does not have deacons, I'm going to go with Onesimus
I was today years old when I first read the book of Philemon. For that reason, and because I like to think about early occurrences of enslaved persons being freed, Onesimus got my vote. But how do you pronounce his name? BTW I had to laugh that Paul was asking Philemon, among greater requests, to have a guest room ready. He likely scratched out his request to have coffee and a bagel ready by sunrise.
Well so far during Lent Madness, my selection of saints has only ‘won’ once. And again, I have a sense that Oneimus will not receive the most votes. Actually, I am rather content with those results. I think this year I am reading the profiles with a new and different perspective. I am as competitive as a caterpillar; so, all is well. I find myself fascinated by these particular choices that I have made and would like to sit with them awhile!
Wishing you all a safe and relaxing weekend! Enjoy this Holy Lent!
The daily emails keep arriving later and later every night, culminating with my not receiving the M/N matchup until after 2:00 AM the next day (today). That is obviously after the voting has closed. Come on ,Executive Committee, get your act together!
When Paul of Tarsus was in jail (Let my cellmate go);
He sent a letter in the mail (Let my cellmate go).
Give thought, Philemon, why is he still a slave?
He’s been baptized; let my cellmate go.
“From slavery to the episcopate to a martyr’s death”: not the usual hero’s journey. Today I am voting for Megan Castellan, who managed to create ex nihilo before our eyes. If we still know little (nothing) about Onesimus, we certainly have an entertaining insight into Paul himself, whose insufferability has seldom been more delightfully presented. Megan (not Paul) for the win!
As much as I love Philip, I have to vote for Onesimus!
It takes a lot to try to turn your life around when you are in a "bad way". Onesimus obviously saw the "light' and "love" of our Savior!
As a deacon, there is only one choice here! Yay Philip!
Philip, obviously. Two words - Daughter prophets. He gets my vote.
Interesting that the top seed in each pair has won.
Thank you, David Creech, for pulling all of Philip’s stories together! I’ve always loved the Ethiopian eunuch but hadn’t remember the other instances. Wow, Philip emerges as a go-to person!
Hands-on, digging right into the practical needs of the community. Compassionate—he got picked for the task of caring for widows, and he dedicated himself to healing people who were physically or mentally ill. Compelling, charismatic, and insightful spreader of the Word of God.
He’s been married! So rare to find that in a saint. And with four daughters who prophecy, he must have been not only a spiritual but an all-around good dad.
And I think we can also infer that he’s affable and gracious. He hosted Paul and companions. He shared that conversational chariot ride with the eunuch.
Superb posts today by both bloggers! I voted for Philip because of his achievements and the likable personality that shines through them. But Megan Castellan’s relation of Paul’s letter made me laugh out loud and clap my hands. When I encounter that letter in future, I will always be hearing Paul saying, “Philemon...bless your heart.”
How weird. Philip is winning the vote but Onesimus has almost all the comments. Must be a lot of us deacons voting.
Another thing about Philip - the seven chosen as the first deacons were all from the Hellenist cohort in the church. He is an outsider. Which makes him the perfect person to cross the boundary of the Jewish/Samaritan divide when "all but the apostles" are scattered from Jerusalem, and then, the perfect person to cross the divide of ethnicity, skin color, and sexual norm when he meets the Ethiopian.
The Ethiopian _had been_ to Jerusalem to worship, but as a eunuch had not been allowed to enter the Court of Israel with the Jewish men. Their Bible study begins with Isaiah 53, which probably also expresses how he is feeling about that, but surely continues to 56:4-5: "4 For thus says the Lord:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give, in my house and within my walls,
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off."
(Little pun there.) But Philip realizes, "This is happening now! Of course he can be baptized, included, not excluded!"
My vote went to Onesimus primarily in support of his writer, Megan. Close for me today but she was masterful in fleshing out a meaningful story with few facts, and I am happy to see Paul in a good light for a change, even tho I remain suspect on that.
The email / voting process is unusually wonky this year, SEC 🙂 My sympathies. For me, everything's working fine (using DuckDuckGo on my laptop); better yet, thanks for eliminating the ReCaptcha image-recognition step(s). May your IT gremlins find peace & fulfillment this Lent