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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 1
The gospel changes a servant into a brother.
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1 Paul, a prisoner of
Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly
beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 And to our beloved Apphia, and
aArchippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy
house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou
hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all
saintsa;
6 That the acommunication of
thy faith may become beffectual by the acknowledging of
every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
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5a toward all saints Paul is
masterfully laying the premish that all are one in the Lord. Here he
references that one who is of Christ will have love toward all such who are
also of Christ, that is the saints. The purpose in this is that Paul is
preparing a 'master' to receive a 'servant' in to the fellowship and
membership of the church. It was common for households to have 'slaves', that
is purchased servants who were sold to them as a piece of property would be
bought. But in Christ, there is no such room to treat another fellow being as
property and as a slave servant. All are brothers and sisters in Christ and
there is not one over or better than another. Thus this slave holder who
fains membership in the church is being put to the test by Paul at his best,
to receive into his household, no longer a slave, but a fellow citizen with
the saints.
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7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy
love, because the abowels of the saints are refreshed by
thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
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10 I beseech thee for my son
aOnesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But without thy amind
would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity,
but willingly.
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15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant,
a abrother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto
thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
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18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth
thee aought, put that on mine account;
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
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20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I
trust that through your aprayers I shall be given unto
you.
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23 There salute thee
aEpaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus,
aDemas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
¶ Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus, a servant.
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