_Perhaps _ CONTINGENCY The word is used to express every degree of contingency from the faintest possibility to the highest probability. Two reasons may underlie the peculiar timidity and hesitation implied. 1. This “departure” might have been allowed with a view to a higher good. This case might... [ Continue Reading ]
_A brother beloved _ CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD As has been well said, “In the flesh, Philemon has the brother for his slave; in the Lord, Philemon has the slave for his brother. ” He is to treat him as his brother, therefore, both in the common relationships of everyday life and in the acts of religio... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou count me therefore a partner _ A PARTNER, NOT A PRELATE He does not say, If thou count me a prelate, a ruler of the Church, but a partner; he is content to be one of them, not above them. The angels count us partners (Revelation 19:10); Christ counts us partners (Hebrews 2:14); and shall... [ Continue Reading ]
_If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought _ THEFT The form only is hypothetical. The case is put as one which is absolutely unquestionable. No doubt Onesimus robbed his master when he ran away. The consequence of this is a debt at present unpaid. He wronged Philemon once for all, and conseque... [ Continue Reading ]
_Written it with mine own hand--St._ Paul may have written the whole of this letter with his own hand, contrary to his usual practice. (_Jerome._) A PRECIOUS RELIC What a precious relic, in that case, for Philemon and his family! (_Bp. Wm. Alexander._) A SIGNED BOND It does not follow from this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let me have joy of thee in the lord--In that thou doest what thou doest through the grace of Christ, through His dwelling in thee, and particularly thou imitatest Him in the breaking of bonds and freeing the captive._ (_M. F. Sadler, M. A._) CHRIST THE TRUE SPHERE OF ACTION If Philemon receives h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having confidence in thy obedience _ A GOOD OPINION OF OTHERS In these words the apostle excuseth that he hath hitherto been so earnest with Philemon, declaring, that notwithstanding his exact and effectual manner of handling the matter, he doubted not of his receiving of him into his favour agai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prepare me also a lodging _ A LODGING 1. If St. Paul’s direction here arose from a real anxiety upon the subject of the “lodging” itself, we shall not be likely to suppose that he required much comfort or preparation for an ample retinue. The lodgings, as Jerome happily says, “were for the apost... [ Continue Reading ]
_There salute thee--_ APOSTOLIC SALUTATIONS The salutations which the apostle delivered in such numbers and so earnestly-- 1. Rest on faith and a confession of the one true Church of the Lord. 2. Are an expression of the feeling of our communion, of our higher, heavenly relationship in the fami... [ Continue Reading ]
_The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ _ GRACE THE GIFT OF CHRIST 1_._ At the beginning of the Epistle Paul invoked grace upon the household “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now he conceives of it as Christ’s gift. In Him all the stooping, bestowing love of God is gathered, that from... [ Continue Reading ]