16a

no longer as a slave: This does not mean that Onesimus was not a slave any more. He was still Philemon’s slave. It means that Philemon should not think of him only as a slave, but also especially as his Christian brother. Good News Translation: “he is not just a slave.”

slave: Onesimus belonged to Philemon because he was Philemon’s slave. For more information on “slave”, see Introduction to Philemon.

16b

even more so to you: Paul was saying that Philemon had a reason to love Onesimus even more than Paul did. This was because Onesimus would now be a faithful slave and a Christian brother to Philemon.

16c

in person: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates person here probably means that Onesimus was still a slave. But Philemon would be able to love him now as a person who would obey him and not run away.

in the Lord: This refers to Onesimus as a “fellow Christian,” someone who was united to the Lord Jesus just as Philemon was.

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