Life and Epistles of St. Paul: Commentary on the Book of Philemon

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COMMENTARY
Book of Philemon

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The Epistle To Philemon¹ .

Philemon 1:1- 3

1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlaborer,

1:2 And to our beloved Apphia,² and³ Archippus⁴ our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. With respect to the date of this epistle, the fact that it was conveyed by Onesimus (compare Colossians 4:9), and the persons mentioned as with St. Paul at the time ( Philemon 1:23, 24 compared with Colossians 4:12-14), prove that it was sent to Asia Minor, together with the Epistle to the Colossians, the date of which is discussed in a note on the beginning of that epistle.
2. We are told by Chrysostom that she was the wife of Philemon, which seems probable from the juxtaposition of their names.
3. "Sister" is added in many of the best MSS.
4. Archippus was apparently a presbyter of the church at Colossae, or perhaps an evangelist resident there on a special mission (compare Colossians 4:17); from the present passage, he seems to have lived in the house of Philemon.

Philemon 1:4- 7

1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

1:6 That the communication of thy faith⁵ may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

5. "That" is to be joined with Philemon 1:4, as stating the object of the prayer there mentioned, while Philemon 1:5 gives the subject of the thanksgiving. This is Chrysostom’s view, against which Meyer’s objections appear inconclusive. The literal English of Philemon 1:6 is at follows, that the communication of thy faith may become workful, in true knowledge of all good which is in us, for Christ. The latter words are very obscure, but the rendering adopted in the text appears to make the best sense. The best MSS. are divided between Christ and Christ Jesus; but agree in reading "in us," not "in you."

Philemon 1:8- 20

1:8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

1:9 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.

1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable,⁶ but now profitable to thee⁷ and to me:

1:12 Whom I have sent again:thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own⁸ bowels:

1:13 Whom I would have retained⁹ with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

1:16 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?

1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

1:19 I Paul have written¹⁰ 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.

1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord:refresh my bowels in the Lord. ¹¹

6. Most modern commentators suppose a play on the name Onesimus, which means useful, but there seems scarcely sufficient ground for this, and it was never remarked by the ancient Greek commentators, whose judgment on such a point would be entitled to most deference.
7. Many of the best MSS. add "to thee." The omission of the imperative makes no difference in the sense; bat it is characteristic of St. Paul’s abrupt and rapid dictation. [If, with the best MSS., we omit the imperative, we find it in Philemon 1:17:and the intermediate matter is practically parenthetic. — H.]
8. Children were called the [greek word] of their parents.
9. The imperfect here, and aorist in the preceding and following verse, are used, according to classical idiom, from the position of the reader of the letter.
10. See the preceding note.
11. "Christ" is the reading of the best MSS

Philemon 1:21- 25

1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou¹² wilt also do more than I say.

1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging:for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

1:23 There salute thee Epaphras,¹³ my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlaborers.

1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.¹⁴

12. Observe the change from singular to plural here, and in Philemon 1:25.
13. "Fellow-soldier," as we have before remarked, perhaps means only that Epaphras had voluntarily shared Paul’s imprisonment at Rome by taking up his residence with him, in the lodging where he was guarded by the "soldier that kept him."
14. The Amen as usual is interpolated.

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