Paul encouraged Philemon to receive Onesimus as ______.

Paul encouraged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a "brother." This means that Paul was asking Philemon to treat Onesimus not just as a slave, but as a fellow member of the Christian community and as a fellow believer in Christ. In other words, Paul was asking Philemon to show love and forgiveness to Onesimus and to see him as an equal in the eyes of God. This was a significant request at the time, as slavery was a widespread practice and slaves were often treated as property, rather than as human beings with dignity and worth. By asking Philemon to receive Onesimus as a "brother," Paul was challenging the cultural norms of the day and promoting a message of equality and love in the Christian community.