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.

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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.

— Megan Castellan

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.

— David Creech