Onesimus: Memoirs of a Disciple of St. Paul

The narrator, found abandoned as an infant and raised in a household that never legally freed him, traces his journey from bondage to faith. He describes being bought and sold, domestic life with Philemon, and journeys that expose him to pagan cults and rival philosophies. Encounters with Christian communities and the teachings of the apostle Paul provoke sustained questioning and eventual acceptance of the Gospel. Dialogues and disputes with friends and philosophers, visits to stoic teachers and mysterious oracles, and episodes of loss and accusation test his new convictions. The memoir closes with his active service in early Christian communities, travels to Rome and Smyrna, and reflections on faith, leadership, and endurance.