"Among the speculations and theories of those days, we will suppose that
the idea began to prevail that Christianity was inconsistent with
holding a fellow-being in bondage. A motion is made in the Laodicean
Church that a committee be appointed to confer with the Colossian Church
on the return of Onesimus into slavery. Such a motion would have found
ready advocates in the Church at Laodicea, if, as at a later day, they
were 'neither cold nor hot' in religion; in which case any collateral
subjects wholly or partly secular, would have a charm for them. These
supplied that lack of warmth which they were conscious of as to
religion; their church-meeting, no doubt, seemed to them dull, unless a
subject was introduced which gave opportunity for discussion, and for
things which gendered debate, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings.
"The result of the conference on the part of the Laodicean Committee
with the Colossian Church was, that a general meeting was appointed to
discuss the subject of the return of Onesimus into slavery. It was a
private session of members of the two churches. They claimed the
privilege as Christians of discussing any question relating to the
government and the laws, taking care that no spies were present; still,
with all their precautions, false brethren made trouble for them by
giving private information to the civil authorities against some of
their number, whom they disliked; and this led to some oppression and
persecution.
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