Title The oldest known form is the briefest, To Philemon. That in the A.V. is from the Textus Receptus. Other forms are, Paul's (or The holy Apostle Paul's) Epistle to Philemon. One title runs, These sure things writes Paul to faithful Philemon. [113] [113] The omission of one syllable in this Gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Greeting 1. _Paul_ See on Colossians 1:1. _a prisoner_ To the Colossians he had said "_an Apostle_." Here he speaks more personally. Cp. for the phrase, or its like, Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:8; below, Philemon 1:9. _of Jesus Christ_ If he suffers, it is all in relation to his Mas... [ Continue Reading ]
_our beloved Apphia_ Read, probably, OUR (lit., THE) SISTER APPHIA. The Vulgate combines the two readings, _Appiæ sorori caris-simæ_. We may be sure that Apphia was Philemon's wife. Her name was a frequent Phrygian name (written otherwise _Aphphia;_other forms found are _Apphê, Aphphê_), and had no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Grace be unto you_, &c. Verbatim as in the received text of Colossians 1:2; where see notes. In this private Letter, written about a practical matter, as much as in the public and didactic Letter, all is hallowed with the blessed Name.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thanksgiving and Prayer 4. _I thank my God_ For the phrase precisely cp. Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3 (where see our note). All the Epistles of St Paul, save only _Galatians_, contain a thanksgiving in their first greetings. " _My God:_" so Rom., 1 Cor., Phil., just quoted, and P... [ Continue Reading ]
_hearing_ doubtless from Epaphras, perhaps with Onesimus" confirmation from _his_point of view. The Greek implies _a process_of hearing; the subject was _continually_present in conversation. _love_ See below Philemon 1:7; Philemon 1:9. The whole letter is from love to love. _faith_ Some commentator... [ Continue Reading ]
_that_ This word refers back to the "_prayers_" of Philemon 1:4; Philemon 1:5 being a parenthesis of thought. As in his other thanksgivings, so in this, he passes at once into prayer that the good he rejoices in _may grow_. _the communication_ R.V., "_fellowship_." The Greek word occurs Romans 15:26... [ Continue Reading ]
_we have_ Better, I HAD; i.e., when the news reached me. _joy_ Another reading, ill-supported, has "_grace_" _;_which would bear here the sense of thankfulness. One Greek letter only makes the difference. _consolation_ R. V., COMFORT, which is better. The Greek word commonly denotes rather strengt... [ Continue Reading ]
A personal Request: Onesimus 8. _Wherefore_ Because I am writing to one whose life is the fruit of _a loving_heart. _though I might be much bold_ Lit., "_having much boldness_"; but the insertion of "_though_" rightly explains the thought. "_Boldness_" _:_the Greek word, by derivation, means OUTSP... [ Continue Reading ]
_for love's sake_ Lit., "_because of the love_" _;_i.e., perhaps, "because of _our_love." Ellicott, Alford, and Lightfoot take the reference to be to (Christian) love in general. But the Greek commentators (cent. 11) Theophylact and Œcumenius (quoted by Ellicott) explain the phrase as referring to _... [ Continue Reading ]
_I beseech thee_ See on the same word just above. _my son … whom I have begotten_ Lit., "_whom I begot_." But English demands the perfect where the event is quite recent. " _Son": "begotten_" _:_cp. 1 Corinthians 4:15: "I begot you, _through the Gospel_." The teacher who, by the grace of God, bring... [ Continue Reading ]
_in time past_ In the Greek, simply, ONCE. _unprofitable_ A gentle "play" on "_Helpful's_" name; an allusion, and no more (for no more was needed), to his delinquencies. To Onesimus himself Paul had no doubt spoken, with urgent faithfulness, of his _sin_against his master. What the sin had been we... [ Continue Reading ]
_whom I have sent again_ Lit., "_I did send_" _;_the "epistolary aorist," as in Colossians 4:8, where see note. How much lies behind these simple words; what unselfish jealousy for duty on St Paul's part, and what courage of conscience and faith on that of Onesimus! By law, his offended master might... [ Continue Reading ]
_I would_ Lit., "_I was wishing_" _;_the imperfect indicates a half-purpose, stopped by other considerations. Lightfoot compares for similar imperfects Romans 9:3; Galatians 4:20. _me_ Lit., MYSELF. _in thy stead_ ON THY BEHALF; as thy representative, substitute, agent. He assumes the loving Phile... [ Continue Reading ]
_mind_ Properly, "_opinion_," DECISION. Latin Versions, _consilium_. _would I do nothing_ Lit., "_nothing I willed to do_" The A. V. represents the idiom rightly. _that thy benefit_ The primary reason, doubtless, was that it was Onesimus" _duty_to return, and Paul's to give him up. But this delica... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ He gives a new reason for Onesimus" return. Perhaps it was _on purpose for_such a more than restoration that he was permitted to desert Philemon. So to send him back is to carry out God's plan. _perhaps_ He claims no insight into the Divine purpose, where it is not revealed to him. _departed... [ Continue Reading ]
_not now as a servant_ NO MORE AS BONDSERVANT. Not that he would cease to be such, necessarily, in law; St Paul does not say "_set him free_." But in Christ he was free, an and of kin. _a brother beloved_ Cp. 1 Timothy 6:2 for the same thought from the slave's point of view. These simple words are... [ Continue Reading ]
_count_ Lit., "_have_," HOLD. The word is similarly used Luke 14:18; Philippians 2:29. _a partner_ AN ASSOCIATE, A FELLOW; in faith and interests. The Apostle is altogether the man, the friend. Cp. 2 Corinthians 8:23. Wyclif, "_as thou haste me a felowe_." _receive_ On the word, see note on Philem... [ Continue Reading ]
_If he hath wronged thee_ Lit., BUT IF HE WRONGED THEE, before, or when, he fled. See on Philemon 1:11. Horace (_Sat_., 1. i. 78) says how the anxious master "fears lest his slaves should pillage him and fly" (_ne te compilent fugientes_). _oweth_ The slave might be trusted by his master with money... [ Continue Reading ]
_I Paul have written it_ Lit., "_did write it;_" an "epistolary aorist" (Colossians 4:8); "the tense commonly used in signatures" (Lightfoot). Here, surely, he takes the pen (cp. Colossians 4:18) and writes his indebtedness in autograph, with a formal mention of his own name; then, he gives the pen... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yea_ So (in the Greek) Matthew 15:27; Philippians 4:3. _brother_ Again the word of love and honour, as in Philemon 1:7. _let me have joy of thee_ We may render, less warmly, "_Let me reap benefit of thee_." So the Geneva Version; "_Let me obteyne this fruit of thee_." But the Greek usage of the v... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy obedience_ The obedience of love, as to a father and benefactor. Cp. Philippians 2:12. Not love of authority, but a tender gravity in a case so near his heart, speaks here. _I wrote_ Better, in English epistolary idiom, I HAVE WRITTEN. _also do more than I say_ He means, surely, that Philemon... [ Continue Reading ]
He hopes to visit Colossæ 22. _But withal_ Here is a different matter, yet not quite apart from the main theme. "There is a gentle compulsion in this mention of a personal visit to Colossæ. The Apostle would be able to see for himself that Philemon had not disappointed his expectations" (Lightfoot)... [ Continue Reading ]
Salutations 23. _There salute thee_ Cp. Colossians 4:10. _Epaphras_ Cp. Colossians 1:7, and note. _my fellowprisoner_ Cp. Colossians 4:10, and note. This passage is in favour of explaining the term there also to mean "a visitor who is so much with me as to be, as it were, in prison too.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas_ Cp. Colossians 4:10; Colossians 4:14, and notes. This group of names (with the names of Archippus, Philemon 1:2 above, and Onesimus, Philemon 1:10) links this Epistle to that to Colossæ, in time and place of writing, and in destination. See Paley's acute remarks... [ Continue Reading ]
_The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ_ So Romans 16:20; Rom 16:24; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 6:18 (where the whole formula is verbatim as here); Php 4:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:18; Revelation 22:21. Cp.... [ Continue Reading ]