Onesimus Could Be Executed

In a letter to Onesimus, Paul says he would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. He writes: "He's very dear to me, but even dear to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord" But if this is a joking tongue and cheek like Philemon, you know what you've got to do here; there's no wayPaul has any inkling that Onesimus is going to excuse me when he shows up at Colossia.