Philemon 1:8

A personal Request: Onesimus

8. Wherefore Because I am writing to one whose life is the fruit of a lovingheart.

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 outspokenness, and its usage almost always illustrates this. See on Colossians 2:15 above, and our note on Ephesians 3:12. He has the right to "say anything" to Philemon.

in Christ Whom he represents as apostle, and who also unites him and Philemon in an intimacy which makes outspokenness doubly right.

enjoin A very strong word. The cognate noun occurs Titus 2:15; "rebuke with all authority." "Love must often take the place of authority" (Quesnel).

convenient Befitting; the French convenable. So Ephesians 5:4, where the same Greek (which occurs also Colossians 3:18; see note) is represented. In older English this was a familiar meaning of "convenient"; thus Latimer speaks of "voluntary works, which … be of themselves marvellous … convenientto be done." See the Bible Word Book.