Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philemon 1:12

ὃν� (אACD*, vulg. clem. Pesh.) αὐτόν, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα (omitting προσλαβοῦ אAFgrGgr 17). Text. Rec. reads ὁ͂ν�· σὺ δὲ (אcC2[D]GKLP etc. old Lat. [vulg. Syrr.])[102] αὐτόν, τουτέστι τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα, προσλαβοῦ (אcCDKLP, etc. vulg. Syrr. Chr.). This is evidently due to the difficulty of αὐτόν after the relative. The punctuation adopted by some editors of a comma between σοι and αὐτόν is to bring out what is probably the right interpretation. See Commentary.

[102] N.B. The authorities in this note in square brackets differ from the Text. Rec. by inserting, in at least some copies of the versions, σοί before σὺ δέ.

12. ὅν�, “whom I send on,” as stated in Colossians 4:9.

Epistolary aorist, cf. ἔγραψα, Philemon 1:19; Philemon 1:21, ἔπεμψα, Colossians 4:8. The force of ἀνα is probably “on” to a higher or more proper quarter, Acts 25:21; Luke 23:7, cf. Deissmann Bible Studies p. 229, but perhaps it means “back,” Luke 23:11; Luke 23:15.

σοι. See notes on Textual Criticism.

αὐτόν. Hardly a “Hebraism” with ὅν, for this construction nowhere occurs in St Paul’s writings. Even Galatians 2:10 is so only in appearance. It was probably added for emphasis (cf. the threefold αὐτός in John 9:21). Its object is to bring Onesimus vividly before the reader, and thus prepare the way for the strong contrast τοῦτʼ ἔστιν τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα.

Lightfoot somewhat strangely places a full stop at σοί, and makes αὐτὸν a suspended accusative governed ultimately by προσλαβοῦ in Philemon 1:17. Meyer had already done so, but his adoption of the false reading σὺ δέ left him no choice.

τοῦτʼ ἔστιν (Romans 7:18; Romans 10:8) τὰ ἐμὰ σπλάγχνα, “that is, my very heartstrings.” Pesh., Theodoret, and perhaps even Chrysostom, understand σπλάγχνα as equivalent to τέκνον (Philemon 1:10). For such a use of σπλάγχνα and viscera see many quotations in Wetstein. But not only is this tautological after Philemon 1:10, but the frequent use by St Paul of σπλάγχνα to express emotion (Philemon 1:7; Philemon 1:20; Colossians 3:12) makes it extremely improbable.

On προσλαβοῦ in the Text. Rec., see notes on Textual Criticism.

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Philemon 1:12

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