Philemon 1:23

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; The same persons send salutations in the accompanying letter, except that 'Jesus Justus' is not mentioned here. EPAPHRAS, MY FELLOW-PRISONER. He had been sent by the Colossians to inquire after and minister to Paul, and possibly was cast into prison by the Roman authorities on suspicion. However, he is not mentioned as a prisoner in ; so "fellow-prisoner" here may mean merely a faithful companion to Paul in his imprisonment, putting himself in the position of a prisoner. So "Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner," , may mean. But see note there. Benson conjectures that on some former occasion these two were Paul's 'fellow-prisoners,' not at the time....

23-25 Never have believers found more enjoyment of God, than when suffering together for him. Grace is the best wish for ourselves and others; with this the apostle begins and ends. All grace is from Christ; he purchased, and he bestows it. What need we more to make us happy, than to have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with our spirit? Let us do that now, which we should do at the last breath. Then men are ready to renounce the world, and to prefer the least portion of grace and faith before a kingdom....

Verse Philemon 1:23. _EPAPHRAS, MY FELLOW PRISONER_] Epaphras was a Colossian, as we learn from Colossians 4:12: _Epaphras, who is one of you_. But there is no account there of his being in prison, though the not mentioning of it does not necessarily imply that he was not. Some time or other he had suffered imprisonment for the truth of the Gospel; and on that account St. Paul might, in a general way, call him his _fellow_ _prisoner_....

THERE SALUTE THEE EPAPHRAS - The same persons who are here mentioned as greeting Philemon, are mentioned in the close of the Epistle to the Colossians - furnishing a high degree of evidence that Philemon resided at Colosse. Epaphras was a member of the church there; the notes at Colossians 4:12. MY FELLOW-PRISONER IN CHRIST JESUS - In the cause of Christ; Notes, Philemon 1:1. The circumstance of his being a prisoner is not mentioned in the parallel place in the Epistle to the Colossians, but nothing is more probable....

EXPOSITION PHILEMON 1:1 A PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS. He writes a private letter, as friend to friend, and therefore does not describe himself by his official title of apostle. Having to plead the cause of a _slave_,_ _he begins by putting himself into a similar position as the "bondman of Jesus Christ"—"to obtain thereby the more ready compliance" (Chrysostom). By such a reverend bondage he beseeches Philemon, "and the bondage of Paul was liberty to Onesimus" (Scipio Gentilis). TIMOTHY, etc. He was, then, with St. Paul at the time of writing; therefore at Rome; and this fixes the date of composition at all events before that of the Second Epistle to Timothy, when the apostle was again at Rome (2 Timothy 1:17;...

THERE SALUTE THEE EPAPHRAS,.... Who was a Colossian, and minister of the church at Colosse, and so might be well known to Philemon, who seems to have been of the same place and church; see 1 Thessalonians 1:7 his name is omitted in the Ethiopic version: MY FELLOW PRISONER IN CHRIST JESUS; this good man, and minister of Christ, might have been sent by the Colossians, as Epaphroditus was by the Philippians, to the apostle at Rome, to pay him a visit, and comfort and assist him under his afflictions; and staying and preaching the Gospel there, was committed to prison, or was laid in bonds, as the apostle was, and upon the same account; namely, for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel. For by this time Nero began to persecute the Christians, which he did in the better and more moderate part of his reign; for among several things for which he is commended by the hist

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATION _ 1. The greeting (Philemon 1:1)_ 2. Recognition of Philemon's faith and love (Philemon 1:4) 3. Concerning the reception of Onesimus (Philemon 1:8) 4.The conclusion (Philemon 1:22) Philemon 1:1 He speaks of himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus; the Lord had made him a prisoner. He addresses Philemon (meaning: friendly, loving), the beloved, and his fellow-laborer. Apphia was probably the wife of Philemon; Archippus is called “fellow soldier”; he ministered in the Colossian assembly ...

CLOSING WORDS. Meanwhile let Philemon get a room ready for Paul also; for he has good hope that their prayers will be answered by his release. Epaphras, who is sharing his imprisonment, sends greeting; and so do others who are working with him in Rome. The grace of Christ be with those at Colossæ. PHILEMON 1:22. It was a journey of some weeks from Rome to Colossæ, and Paul's words are not meant to be taken too literally, but he is evidently optimistic as to the result of his approaching trial, and means to pay a visit to Colossæ when he can. Philemon 1:23. Epaphras: _cf._ Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:1

A MAN TO WHOM IT WAS EASY TO APPEAL (Philemon 1:1-7)...

SALUTE. greet. Greek. aspocamai. Compare Colossians 4:12. EPAPHRAS. See Colossians 1:7. FELLOWPRISONER. Greek. _sunaichmalitos_. See Romans 16:7. CHRIST JESUS. App-98....