Philemon 1:19

19. I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.

a.

In Philemon 1:19 Paul continues and clinches his promise to personally square up all debts of Onesimus, should it be that Philemon insisted on this. Paul declares that he has put it in writing with his own hand: he will repay all that Onesimus may owe.

b.

It is rather obvious that Paul really did not expect to receive from Philemon an itemized bill from Philemon of Onesimus-' debts. He goads the conscience of Philemon by saying, I am confident that you will not demand payment of Onesimus-' debts, so that I may not say unto you that you owe to me your own self. (Though Paul said he did not want to say this, he did say it!)

c.

Philemon owed his own self to Paul because Paul had preached to and won Philemon. Philemon had eternal life because Paul had gone to the trouble and effort of teaching, exhorting, and persuading him.

d.

The Bible does not say a great deal about the debts of converts to their teachers. But this is a very real obligation, and is one that cannot be paid off with money. It is best paid by doing the same things to others that those who won us to Christ did unto us. It is best paid by holding and radiating a sincere feeling of gratitude. The heartfelt recognition of the debt is in itself a payment of the debt.