Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy _our_ brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, Ver. 1. _Paul a prisoner, &c._] This is a notable Epistle, and full of worth; each word having its weight, each syllable its substance. From an abject subject, the receiving of a runaw... [ Continue Reading ]
And to _our_ beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: Ver. 2. _And to our beloved Apphia_] For Appia, but this was the manner of pronunciation at Tarsus, St Paul's country. This Apphia was (saith Theodoret) Philemon's wife; whose goodwill might make much to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 3. _Grace to you, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ 1Co 1:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ 2Co 1:2 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Ver. 4. _I thank my God_] Thus the apostle begins most of his Epistles. As any man is more or less gracious, so is he thankful. The same Greek word for grace signifieth thankfulness, χαρις. Neither is there anything that seals up more com... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; Ver. 5. _Hearing of thy love and faith_] Love is first mentioned, as more noticed. But faith is the mother grace, the womb wherein love and all the rest of that heavenly offspring are conceived.... [ Continue Reading ]
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Ver. 6. _That the communication, &c._] This is that which St Paul prayed for Philemon, Philemon 1:4. For Phm 1:5 " comes in by a parenthesis.... [ Continue Reading ]
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Ver. 7. _The bowels of the saints are refreshed_] Gr. αναπεπαυται. Rested, as it were after much toil and travel, which made their hearts ache.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Ver. 8. _That which is convenient_] το ανηκον, or, that which is thy duty. _Officium autem est ius actionis ad quemcunque statum pertinens, _ saith Jul. Scaliger.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet for love's sake I rather beseech _thee_, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Ver. 9. _Yet for love's sake, &c._] Here is brave oratory, such as might well mollify the hardest heart; _Petendo movet, et movendo petit._ Paul the aged] And therefore venera... [ Continue Reading ]
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Ver. 10. _My son Onesimus_] Ignatius, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, maketh mention of Onesimus, as pastor of Ephesus, next after Timothy. The Roman Martyrologue saith, that he was stoned to death at Rome, under Trajan the empe... [ Continue Reading ]
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Ver. 11. _But now profitable_] So is every true convert; there is little cause that men should boast they are no changelings, since whosoever is in Christ is a new creature. Sir Anthony Kingstone came to Mr Hooper th... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Ver. 12. _That is mine own bowels_] Pray for me, mine own heart root in the Lord (said Mr Bradford in a letter to Mr Saunders), _Quem in intimis visceribus habeo ad convivendum et commoriendum._... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: Ver. 13. _In the bonds of the gospel_] Which is bound after a sort, when the preachers thereof are imprisoned.... [ Continue Reading ]
But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. Ver. 14. _Would I do nothing_] _Posse et nolle nobile est._ He that goes to the utmost of his chain may possibly break a link. _Concedamus de iure ut careamus life._ Part with somewhat fo... [ Continue Reading ]
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Ver. 15. _For perhaps he therefore_] God hath a hand in ordering our disorders to his own glory and our good. He teacheth us by our temptations. This made Mr Fox say that his graces did him most hurt, and his... [ Continue Reading ]
Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? Ver. 16. _Both in the flesh_] Perhaps Onesimus was Philemon's kinsman. _ And in the Lord_] _Sanctior est copula cordis quam corporis._ "He that is joined... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. Ver. 17. _A partner_] κοινωνον. One in common with thee. _Amicorum omnia communia._ Receive him, ] προσλαβου. Take him to thee, put him in thy bosom, make much of him. How effectually doth this great apostle plead the cause of this poor... [ Continue Reading ]
If he hath wronged thee, or oweth _thee_ ought, put that on mine account; Ver. 18. _If he hath wronged thee_] His shameful escape the apostle sweetly mitigateth by the name of wrong; his theft, of debt. See Philemon 1:15; cf. Genesis 14:5 . _ Put that on mine account_] To the like effect speaks th... [ Continue Reading ]
I Paul have written _it_ with mine own hand, I will repay _it_ : albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Ver. 19. _Thou owest unto me, &c._] If Cleanthes gave himself to his master Socrates; if Alexander could say that he owed more to Aristotle that taught hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. Ver. 20. _Yea, brother, let me have joy_] οναιμην, or benefit by thee; an elegant allusion it is in the original to the name of Onesimus; and it is as if the apostle embracing Philemon, and hanging about his neck, sho... [ Continue Reading ]
Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. Ver. 21. _Knowing that thou wilt, &c._] Who could ever have the heart to resist such rhetoric? Is not here the very marrow of most powerful persuasion (_Suadae medulla_), a golden flood of eloquenc... [ Continue Reading ]
But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. Ver. 22. _But withal, prepare, &c._] Thus he despatcheth his own private business in one word, as it were; his main care was, that Onesimus might do well: a fair mirror for ministers.... [ Continue Reading ]
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Ver. 23. _Epaphras my fellowprisoner_] Clapped up, belike, for visiting and countenancing St Paul, to whom he was sent by the Colossians with relief, while he was prisoner at Rome. The ecclesiastical history telleth us of one Phileas a... [ Continue Reading ]
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Ver. 24. _Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas_] Here Demas was in good credit with the apostle, but soon after fell away; like as glass, and some baser metals, shine brightest in the fire when nearest of all to melting, or as the candle giveth a great b... [ Continue Reading ]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ _be_ with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant. >> Ver. 25. _The grace of our Lord_] Say the world what it will, a grain of grace is worth a world of wealth. The blessings that come. out of Sion are better than any that come out... [ Continue Reading ]