Philemon 1:2

APPHIA; a Christian woman at Colosse, perhaps the wife of Philemon. ARCHIPPUS; a minister of the gospel in that city. Colossians 4:17. THE CHURCH IN THY HOUSE; worshipping in thy house.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:3

True religion leads those who are under its influence to be kind and courteous; and to desire for others, especially for their friends, the richest spiritual blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:6

THAT THE COMMUNICATION OF THY FAITH; by some, these words are connected immediately with the preceding verse, thus: Hearing of thy love and faith, etc., love and faith which look to this end, that the communication of thy faith may be effectual, etc. But we may, perhaps, better connect them with ver... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:7

THY LOVE; towards Christ and his people. BOWELS; hearts. The manifestation of real goodness in the habitual practice of good works, gives great joy to all benevolent beholders; and that love to Christ which leads men to supply the wants of his people will be rewarded by him as if the acts of kindne... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:8

I MIGHT; he might, as an inspired apostle, command Philemon to do THAT WHICH IS CONVENIENT; that is, becoming; the thing, namely, which he was about to state, and which it was the duty of Philemon to do.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:9

FOR LOVE'S SAKE; their mutual love to Christ and his cause, and to one another. I RATHER BESEECH; Paul chose to take this course rather than to command Philemon to do as he desired, and as God required him to do. Those who know the duty of others, and have from God a right to command them to do it,... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:10

MY SON; for whom he felt the affection of a spiritual father. ONESIMUS; who had been a servant to Philemon, but had left him and gone to Rome. WHOM I HAVE BEGOTTEN; whom Paul, while a prisoner at Rome, had been the means of converting. In the days of Paul, when a servant left his master and went t... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:12

RECEIVE HIM; as one on whom is placed the heart of Paul, the aged and imprisoned sufferer for Christ. MINE OWN BOWELS; either the child of mine own bowels in a spiritual sense, Genesis 15:4, etc, or one dear to me as my own heart. If a servant who has left a Christian master and gone to a distant p... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:13

I WOULD HAVE RETAINED; that he might render to me, in my imprisonment, the assistance which you, were you present, would gladly bestow.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:14

WOULD I DO NOTHING; nothing to retain Onesimus without Philemon's consent. THAT THY BENEFIT; bestowed upon me; in other words, that the good which Onesimus might do him should be with the free choice of Philemon.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:15

DEPARTED FOR A SEASON; from Philemon. RECEIVE HIM FOR EVER; as a disciple of Christ, one whom he was to love, and with whom he would hold sweet communion to eternity.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:16

NOT NOW; no longer to be viewed or treated as a servant, but as a brother in Christ, united to Him by faith and beloved for His sake. IN THE FLESH, AND IN THE LORD; in his relations for this life and for the life to come.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:17

A PARTNER; a partaker with Philemon of the gracious rights, privileges, and blessings of the salvation which Christ died to purchase. AS MYSELF; with great kindness and affection, rejoicing to do to Onesimus as, under a change of circumstances, he ought to wish Paul or Onesimus to do to him.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:18

OWETH THEE; if Onesimus had in any way become indebted to Philemon, PUT THAT ON MINE ACCOUNT; charge the debt to me. I hereby pledge myself to repay it.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:20

BROTHER; not merely because they were both men of one common human family, but because they were both united to Christ. REFRESH MY BOWELS; give me great joy.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:21

IN THY OBEDIENCE; to the directions which Paul had given him. Though he chose to put them in the form of requests, they were such as the religion which Philemon professed required him to obey. KNOWING THAT THOU WILT; do more and better for Onesimus than Paul requested.... [ Continue Reading ]

Philemon 1:22

A LODGING; to receive him as a guest after his release from confinement at Rome. I SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU; he believed that in answer to prayer he should be permitted again to visit Philemon, and the brethren at Colosse.... [ Continue Reading ]

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Old Testament