Philemon 1:20

20. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

a.

Paul's appeal closes on a positive note: Yes, my brother, I wish to receive help from you in the Lord. Philemon's act of receiving Onesimus back would be a help to Paul. It would encourage him. It would show to multitudes of people the reality of the power of the gospel in human lives. It would strengthen the faith and love of Onesimus, who was in reality only a babe in Christ. It would show how the gospel relates to and solves the problems of this life.

b.

The wording of this verse (Let me have joy in thee) literally reads, Let me have help of (from) thee. The Gr. word for help is oninemi, which is from the same root as the name Onesimus. See notes on Philemon 1:10. Paul rather asked Philemon to onesimize (i.e. help) him by receiving Onesimus.

c.

The verb help is in the optative mood, a mood expressing wishes and possibility. Paul doubtless used this mood form to make his request gentle and suggestive, rather than imperious and demanding.

d.

Back in Philemon 1:7 Paul declared that Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the saints. Paul closes by asking that Philemon refresh his heart in Christ by receiving Onesimus back as a brother. While this would not be a refreshing for Paul in the flesh, it would be a refreshing to him in Christ, That expression implies a lot of areas wherein Paul might find refreshment.