CHAPTER 5 THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON Philemon 1:1 (R.V.) This Epistle stands alone among Paul's letters in being addressed to a private Christian, and in being entirely occupied with a small, though very singular, private matter; its aim being merely to bespeak a kindly welcome for a runaway slave wh... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:4 (R.V.) PAUL'S was one of those regal natures to which things are possible that other men dare not do. No suspicion of weakness attaches to him when he pours out his heart in love, nor any of insincerity when he speaks of his continual prayers for his friends, or when he runs... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:8 (R.V.) After honest and affectionate praise of Philemon, the Apostle now approaches the main purpose of his letter. But even now he does not blurt it out at once. He probably anticipated that his friend was justly angry with his runaway slave, and therefore, in these verses,... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:12 (R.V.) The characteristic features of the Epistle are all embodied in these verses. They set forth, in the most striking manner, the relation of Christianity to slavery and to other social evils. They afford an exquisite example of the courteous delicacy and tact of the Apo... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:15 (R.V.) The first words of these verses are connected with the preceding by the "for" at the beginning; that is to say, the thought that possibly the Divine purpose in permitting the flight of Onesimus was his restoration, in eternal and holy relationship, to Philemon, was P... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:20 (R.V.) We have already had occasion to point out that Paul's pleading with Philemon, and the motives which he adduces, are expressions, on a lower level, of the greatest principles of Christian ethics. If the closing salutations be left out of sight for the moment, there ar... [ Continue Reading ]