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General Information:
Onesimus is the name of a man. He was apparently Philemon's slave and had stolen something and ran away.
my child Onesimus
"my son Onesimus." Paul speaks of the way he is friends with Onesimus as if it were the way a father and his son love each other. Onesimus was not Paul's actual son, but he received spiritual life when Paul taught him about Jesus, and Paul loved him. Alternate translation: "my spiritual son Onesimus" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
Onesimus
The name "Onesimus" means "profitable" or "useful." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)
whom I have fathered in my chains
Here "fathered" is a metaphor that means Paul converted Onesimus to Christ. Alternate translation: "who became my spiritual son when I taught him about Christ and he received new life while I was in my chains" or "who became like a son to me while I was in my chains" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
in my chains ... while I am in chains
Prisoners were often bound in chains. Paul was in prison when he taught Onesimus and was still in prison when he wrote this letter. Alternate translation: "while I was in prison ... while I am in prison" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)