Philemon 1 · Scripture Insight Network

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

2to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:💬

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,💬

5hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;💬

6that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.💬

7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.💬

8Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,💬

9yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.💬

10I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,💬

11who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.💬

12I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,💬

13whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.💬

14But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.💬

15For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,💬

16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.💬

17If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.💬

18But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.💬

19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).💬

20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.💬

21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.💬

22Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.💬

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,💬

24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.💬

Commentary (23)

Introduction1

Philemon 1

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ADDRESS. THANKSGIVING FOR PHILEMON'S LOVE AND FAITH. INTERCESSION FOR ONESIMUS. CONCLUDING REQUEST AND SALUTATIONS. (Phm. 1:1-25)

prisoner of Jesus Christ--one whom Christ's cause has made a prisoner (compare "in the bonds of the Gospel," (Plm 1:13). He does not call himself, as in other Epistles, "Paul an apostle," as he is writing familiarly, not authoritatively.

our . . . fellow labourer--in building up the Church at Colosse, while we were at Ephesus. See my Introduction to Colossians.

Verse 21

Philemon 1:2

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Apphia--the Latin, "Appia"; either the wife or some close relative of Philemon. She and Archippus, if they had not belonged to his family, would not have been included with Philemon in the address of a letter on a domestic matter.

Archippus--a minister of the Colossian Church (Col 4:17).

fellow soldier-- (Ti2 2:3).

church in thy house--In the absence of a regular church building, the houses of particular saints were used for that purpose. Observe Paul's tact in associating with Philemon those associated by kindred or Christian brotherhood with his house, and not going beyond it.

Verse 41

Philemon 1:4

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always--joined by ALFORD with, "I thank my God."

Verse 51

Philemon 1:5

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Hearing--the ground of his thanksgiving. It is a delicate mark of authenticity, that he says "hearing" as to churches and persons whom he had not seen or then visited. Now Colosse, Philemon's place of residence, he had never yet seen. Yet Plm 1:19 here implies that Philemon was his convert. Philemon, doubtless, was converted at Ephesus, or in some other place where he met Paul.

love and faith--The theological order is first faith then love, the fruit of faith. But he purposely puts Philemon's love in the first place, as it is to an act of love that he is exhorting him.

toward . . . toward--different Greek words: "towards" . . . "unto." Towards implies simply direction; unto, to the advantage of.

Verse 61

Philemon 1:6

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That--The aim of my thanksgiving and prayers for thee is, in order that the, &c.

Verse 71

Philemon 1:7

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For--a reason for the prayer, Plm 1:4-6.

we have--Greek, "we had."

joy and consolation--joined in Co2 7:4.

saints are refreshed by thee--His house was open to them.

brother--put last, to conciliate his favorable attention to the request which follows.

Verse 81

Philemon 1:8

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Wherefore--Because of my love to thee, I prefer to "beseech," rather than "enjoin," or authoritatively command.

I might . . . enjoin--in virtue of the obligation to obedience which Philemon lay under to Paul, as having been converted through his instrumentality.

in Christ--the element in which his boldness has place.

Verse 91

Philemon 1:9

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for love's sake--mine to thee, and (what ought to be) thine to Onesimus. Or, that Christian love of which thou showest so bright an example (Plm 1:7).

being such an one--Explain, Being such a one as thou knowest me to be, namely,

Paul--the founder of so many churches, and an apostle of Christ, and thy father in the faith.

the aged--a circumstance calculated to secure thy respect for anything I request.

and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ--the strongest claim I have on thy regard: if for no other reason, at least in consideration of this, through commiseration gratify me.

Verse 101

Philemon 1:10

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I beseech thee--emphatically repeated from Plm 1:9. In the Greek, the name "Onesimus" is skilfully put last, he puts first a favorable description of him before he mentions the name that had fallen into so bad repute with Philemon. "I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus." Scripture does not sanction slavery, but at the same time does not begin a political crusade against it. It sets forth principles of love to our fellow men which were sure (as they have done) in due time to undermine and overthrow it, without violently convulsing the then existing political fabric, by stirring up slaves against their masters.

Verse 111

Philemon 1:11

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Which . . . was . . . unprofitable--belying his name Onesimus, which means "profitable." Not only was he "unprofitable," but positively injurious, having "wronged" his master. Paul uses a mild expression.

now profitable--Without godliness a man has no station. Profitable in spiritual, as well as in temporal things.

Verse 121

Philemon 1:12

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mine own bowels--as dear to me as my own heart [ALFORD]. Compare Plm 1:17, "as myself." The object of my most intense affection as that of a parent for a child.

Verse 131

Philemon 1:13

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I--emphatical. I for my part. Since I had such implicit trust in him as to desire to keep him with me for his services, thou mayest.

I would have retained--different Greek from the "would," Plm 1:14, "I could have wished," "I was minded" here; but "I was not willing," Plm 1:14.

in thy stead--that he might supply in your place all the services to me which you, if you were here, would render in virtue of the love you bear to me (Plm 1:19).

bonds of the gospel--my bonds endured for the Gospel's sake (Plm 1:9).

Verse 141

Philemon 1:14

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without thy mind--that is, consent.

should not be as--"should not appear as a matter of necessity, but of free will." Had Paul kept Onesimus, however willing to gratify Paul Philemon might be, he would have no opportunity given him of showing he was so, his leave not having been asked.

Verse 151

Philemon 1:15

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perhaps--speaking in human fashion, yet as one believing that God's Providence probably (for we cannot dogmatically define the hidden purposes of God in providence) overruled the past evil to ultimately greater good to him. This thought would soften Philemon's indignation at Onesimus' past offense. So Joseph in Gen 45:5.

departed--literally, "was parted from thee"; a softening term for "ran away," to mitigate Philemon's wrath.

receive him--Greek, "have him for thyself in full possession" (see on Phi 4:18). The same Greek as in Mat 6:2.

for ever--in this life and in that to come (compare Exo 21:6). Onesimus' time of absence, however long, was but a short "hour" (so Greek) compared with the everlasting devotion henceforth binding him to his master.

Verse 161

Philemon 1:16

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No longer as a mere servant or slave (though still he is that), but above a servant, so that thou shalt derive from him not merely the services of a slave, but higher benefits: a servant "in the flesh," he is a brother "in the Lord."

beloved, specially to me--who am his spiritual father, and who have experienced his faithful attentions. Lest Philemon should dislike Onesimus being called "brother," Paul first recognizes him as a brother, being the spiritual son of the same God.

much more unto thee--to whom he stands in so much nearer and more lasting relation.

Verse 171

Philemon 1:17

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a partner--in the Christian fellowship of faith, hope, and love.

receive him as myself--resuming "receive him that is mine own bowels."

Verse 181

Philemon 1:18

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Greek, "But it (thou art not inclined to 'receive him' because) he hath wronged thee"; a milder term than "robbed thee." Onesimus seems to have confessed some such act to Paul.

put that on mine account--I am ready to make good the loss to thee if required. The latter parts of Plm 1:19, Plm 1:21, imply that he did not expect Philemon would probably demand it.

Verse 191

Philemon 1:19

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with mine own hand--not employing an amanuensis, as in other Epistles: a special compliment to Philemon which he ought to show his appreciation of by granting Paul's request. Contrast Col 4:18, which shows that the Epistle to the Colossian Church, accompanying this Epistle, had only its closing "salutation" written by Paul's own hand.

albeit, &c.--literally, "that I may not say . . . not to say," &c.

thou owest . . . even thine own self--not merely thy possessions. For to my instrumentality thou owest thy salvation. So the debt which "he oweth thee" being transferred upon me (I making myself responsible for it) is cancelled.

Verse 201

Philemon 1:20

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let me--"me" is emphatic: "Let me have profit (so Greek 'for joy,' onainen, referring to the name Onesimus, 'profitable') from thee, as thou shouldst have had from Onesimus"; for "thou owest thine ownself to me."

in the Lord--not in worldly gain, but in thine increase in the graces of the Lord's Spirit [ALFORD].

my bowels--my heart. Gratify my feelings by granting this request.

in the Lord--The oldest manuscripts read, "in Christ," the element or sphere in which this act of Christian love naturally ought to have place.

Verse 211

Philemon 1:21

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Having confidence in thy obedience--to my apostolic authority, if I were to "enjoin" it (Plm 1:8), which I do not, preferring to beseech thee for it as a favor (Plm 1:9).

thou will also do more--towards Onesimus: hinting at his possible manumission by Philemon, besides, being kindly received.

Verse 221

Philemon 1:22

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This prospect of Paul's visiting Colosse would tend to secure a kindly reception for Onesimus, as Paul would know in person how he had been treated.

your . . . you--referring to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and the Church in Philemon's house. The same expectation is expressed by him, Phi 2:23-24, written in the same imprisonment.

Verse 231

Philemon 1:23

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The same persons send salutations in the accompanying Epistle, except that "Jesus Justus" is not mentioned here.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner--He had been sent by the Colossian Church to inquire after, and minister to, Paul, and possibly was cast into prison by the Roman authorities on suspicion. However, he is not mentioned as a prisoner in Col 4:12, so that "fellow prisoner" here may mean merely one who was a faithful companion to Paul in his imprisonment, and by his society put himself in the position of a prisoner. So also "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner," Col 4:10, may mean. Benson conjectures the meaning to be that on some former occasion these two were Paul's "fellow prisoners," not at the time.

Verse 251

Philemon 1:25

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be with your spirit-- (Gal 6:18; Ti2 4:22).

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