I. _PAUL'S GREETING;_ PHILEMON 1:1-3. 1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, a. Paul opens this lovely letter with a description of himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. The word _prisoner_ means one bound with a chain. Paul was c... [ Continue Reading ]
II. _PAUL'S THANKS FOR PHILEMON;_ PHILEMON 1:4-7. 4. I thank _my_ God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, a. As in many of his epistles Paul starts the section right after his greeting with an expression of his thankfulness. Compare Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3; and ot... [ Continue Reading ]
III. _PAUL'S INTERCESSION FOR ONESIMUS;_ PHILEMON 1:8-22. 8. Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, 9. yet for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus. a. Paul as a chosen apostle of C... [ Continue Reading ]
10. I BESEECH THEE FOR MY CHILD, WHOM I HAVE BEGOTTEN IN MY BONDS, ONESIMUS. a. In this verse the great central burden of the letter is revealed: Paul is begging concerning Onesimus, the runaway slave. In all probability Philemon sensed that the letter concerned Onesimus from the instant he saw i... [ Continue Reading ]
11. WHO ONCE WAS UNPROFITABLE TO THEE, BUT NOW IS PROFITABLE TO THEE AND TO ME: a. Paul makes no attempt to cover up or deny the wrongs that Onesimus had done. He did not assume, as may do today, that a person must not be criticized for responding violently in a bad environment. If Philemon were l... [ Continue Reading ]
12. WHOM I HAVE SENT BACK TO THEE IN HIS OWN PERSON, THAT IS, _MY_ VERY HEART: a. This sentence is choppy and ragged in wording. It evidently was written under strong emotion. The words blurted forth without regard to smooth poetic flow. A literal Greek rendering is: Whom I sent to you, him, that... [ Continue Reading ]
13. WHOM I WOULD FAIN HAVE KEPT WITH ME, THAT IN THY BEHALF HE MIGHT MINISTER UNTO ME IN THE BONDS OF THE GOSPEL; 14. BUT WITHOUT THY MIND I WOULD DO NOTHING; THAT THY GOODNESS SHOULD NOT BE AS OF NECESSITY, BUT OF FREE WILL. a. The information in Philemon 1:13 would certainly go far to convince P... [ Continue Reading ]
15. FOR PERHAPS HE WAS THEREFORE PARTED _FROM THEE_ FOR A SEASON, THAT THOU SHOULDEST HAVE HIM FOR EVER; a. Paul here presents a possibility (perhapsperadventure); Maybe Onesimus was separated from Philemon so that he might be reunited with Philemon throughout eternity. He was parted from a slave... [ Continue Reading ]
16. NO LONGER AS A SERVANT, BUT MORE THAN A SERVANT, A BROTHER BELOVED, SPECIALLY TO ME, BUT HOW MUCH RATHER TO THEE, BOTH IN THE FLESH AND IN THE LORD. a. Philemon was to consider that in having Onesimus forever, he would have him no longer as a slave, but as one much superior to a slave, a belov... [ Continue Reading ]
17. IF THEN THOU COUNTEST ME A PARTNER, RECEIVE HIM AS MYSELF. a. This verse is the grand climax of all that Paul has written up to this point. Receive Onesimus as you would receive me. b. Paul assumes that Philemon will have (accept, welcome) him as a _partner,_ one with a common share in the b... [ Continue Reading ]
18. BUT IF HE HATH WRONGED THEE AT ALL, OR OWETH _THEE_ AUGHT, PUT THAT TO MINE ACCOUNT; a. This verse answers a possible objection that might be raised by Philemon: How can I receive Onesimus back when he has done so dishonestly (or unjustly), and owes me for what he has taken? b. We have no de... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 m... [ Continue Reading ]
21. HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THINE OBEDIENCE I WRITE UNTO THEE, KNOWING THAT THOU WILT DO EVEN BEYOND WHAT I SAY. a. Paul was persuaded by his personal knowledge of Philemon that he would be obedient to the request to receive Onesimus. He could even assert more than that: he _knew_ that Philemon would... [ Continue Reading ]
22. BUT WITHAL PREPARE ME ALSO A LODGING: FOR I HOPE THAT THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS I SHALL BE GRANTED UNTO YOU. a. Paul clinches his written appeal by the announcement that he expected to be visiting Philemon sometime soon. If by some chance Philemon had not complied with Paul's written request, he co... [ Continue Reading ]
IV. _SALUTATIONS AND BENEDICTION;_ PHILEMON 1:23-25. 23. Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee; 24. _and so do_ Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers. a. As he does in several epistles Paul closes by naming several brethren with him who also send greetings. b.... [ Continue Reading ]