Introductory remarks:
"Paul greets Philemon as a prisoner of Christ with Timothy his beloved fellow laborer and greets the church in his house. He thanks God after hearing of Philemon's faith, which attests to Christ working in him, and the love that he shows to the saints. Though he has the power to command, he appeals instead out of love concerning Onesimus. Who was once a useless servant, but was converted by Paul in prison. Paul now returns him to his master, Philemon. Paul wanted Onesimus to stay but says perhaps he was destined to return to Philemon and asks that he be accepted as if he were Paul himself. Paul promises to pay for anything Onesimus owes Philemon. Paul is confident Philemon will do more than he asks. He asks that a room be prepared for him hoping that he will be able to visit and sends greetings from those with him" (A Survey of Philemon - By Brenda). This letter may be outlined as follows: Salutation vv. 1-3: Philemon's love and faith vv. 4-7: Paul pleads for Onesimus vv. 8-22: Final greetings vv. 23-25.
Salutation
Verse 1, "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow-laborer."
LGT "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-worker."
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus: Paul apparently uses the term "prisoner" rather than an "an Apostle of Jesus Christ" because of the circumstances of Onesimus being Philemon's slave, and as such, his prisoner. Also it would not be appropriate to use the term "apostle", because of the personal nature of this letter. And Timotheus the brother: Timothy was with Paul in Ephesus and was probably known by Philemon. Paul says "the brother" because Timothy was not only Paul's brother and Philemon's brother; but he is the brother of everyone who knows Christ as their Savior. To Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-worker: Philemon was well known in Colossae; converted under Paul's ministry there; he opened up his home for the meeting of the Christians in Colossae.
Verse 2, "And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house."
LGT "And to Apphia the sister, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly in your house."
And to Apphia the sister: probably the wife of Philemon; Paul uses the term "sister" in the Christian sense. And Archippus: probably the son of Philemon and Apphia. Our fellow-soldier: he was not a Roman soldier, but Paul uses the term fellow-soldier in a metaphorical sense, that is, a soldier in Christ's army in spiritual warfare. And to the assembly in your house: in Colossae there were many homes where Christians met to study; there were not church buildings until after the third century (Rom. 16:5). "Not only had they been converted, but they had a church in their house. Let's think about this for a moment. The church building has become all-important to people today that is all out of relationship to the real purpose of the local church. The local church in Paul's day wasn't down on the corner in a separate building - they didn't have any building. There were the great temples to the pagan gods, but the early church didn't have buildings; they met in homes. It is estimated that for two hundred years the church met in homes" (McGee).
Verse 3, "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
LGT "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ."
This is the usual greeting of Paul to all the saints.
Philemon's Love and Faith
Verse 4, "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers."
LGT "I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers."
The meaning here is that whenever Paul thinks about these believers he prays for them.
Verse 5, "Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints."
LGT "Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints."
Hearing of thy love and faith: Paul probably heard this from Onesimus after he accepted Christ as his Savior. Which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus: Paul speaks of Philemon's faith and love toward the Lord Jesus Christ and then: And towards all the saints: conversion comes first, that is faith in Christ, and then the Lord is able to shed his love abroad in the heart of the believer. If we have true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will love the brotherhood, that is, if we want to remain in fellowship with Him.
Verse 6, "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
LGT "So that the fellowship of your faith may become efficient in [the] acknowledgment of every good [thing] which is in us towards Christ."
So that the fellowship of your faith: the partnership of his faith producing active love and compassion he has for all the saints. May become efficient: this fellowship he has will be effective, useful, and productive. In the acknowledgement of every good thing: this means that he will be able to identify the source of his full-knowledge of every good work; that it is the production of the Holy Spirit. Which is in us towards Christ: this means that all is done for the glory of the Christ. All that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer is to glorify Christ. Paul's prayer here for Philemon states that he is a very generous man to the saints; and now Paul will ask even more of Philemon.
Verse 7, "For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother."
LGT "For I had great joy and encouragement by occasion of your love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother."
For I had great joy and encouragement: the Authorized Version has "we have", which is not correct. The literal translation is "I had great joy etc.", connecting it with his prayer in verse 4. By occasion of your love: the reason for Paul's great joy and encouragement. Because the bowels of the saints: the bowels of the saints refer to their seat of emotion from the heart. Have been refreshed by you: the saints that met in his home were energized in their spirits by Philemon's partnership in the Lord. Brother: no term could be more endearing than this. I personally cannot call a man brother that is not genuinely committed to Jesus Christ. The world tosses around this moniker "brother", and among the soul brothers "bro", to the point that it is meaningless; however, Paul uses it in the most endearing context, and it is very pleasing to me that I am also Paul's brother.
Paul Pleads for Onesimus
Verse 8, "Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient."
LGT "Wherefore I have all boldness in Christ to beseech you what is becoming,"
Wherefore I have much boldness in Christ: Paul graciously calls upon his apostolic authority here, for he is reaching now the purpose of his letter, showing reciprocal Christian courtesy, and respect. To beseech you what is becoming: though I have the authority to command you, yet for the love you have displayed, I feel brotherlier to beseech you. I feel that you will respond much more readily to a request than a command; and even if not, I feel more in a partnership [fellowship] with you by making requests to you, rather than a command, for I know that you are a loving brother.
Verse 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."
LGT "Because of the love I rather beseech, such a one being as Paul [the] aged, and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:"
Yet for love's sake: this is love Paul and Philemon have for each other as brothers in Christ. I rather beseech: rather than command him Paul makes it a humble request. Such a one being Paul the aged: Paul refers to himself as an old man, for he was not yet sixty years old. He does this because of the hard life he has lived, and it has taken a toll on his body. And now a prisoner of Christ Jesus: Paul is in chains in a Roman prison because of the fact that He was Christ's ambassador making known to the world the gospel of grace.
Verse 10, "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds."
LGT "I beseech the for my child, whom I begot in my bonds, Onesimus."
Paul calls Onesimus his child for he begot him by the grace of God even while in chains himself. Paul makes this appeal in order that Philemon will recognize that the slave is now his brother in the Lord. Paul had many spiritual children including Timothy, Titus, and even Philemon. What Paul means by the word "begot" is that the Holy Spirit used him as an instrument to win Onesimus into the family, by giving him the simple gospel of grace.
Verse 11, "Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:"
LGT "Once to thee unserviceable, but now to thee and to me serviceable:"
The name Onesimus means "useful", and this is a play on words: Useful had become useless, but now, he is a new creature in Christ, and is once again useful to both Paul and Philemon.
Verse 12, "Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:"
LGT "Whom I have sent back to you, in his own person, that is, my heart:"
What this complex sentence means is that Paul is asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back as if it were Paul himself that he was receiving. Paul is saying that if Philemon treated Onesimus harshly, it would wound his heart of compassion, for he loved Onesimus, his spiritual child. Paul desired Philemon to view Onesimus from the divine viewpoint as a true family member, and that wherever Onesimus travels; he now carries Paul's heartfelt love.
Verse 13. "Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel."
LGT "Whom I was desiring to keep with myself, in order that in thy behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the Glad Tidings."
Whom I was desiring to keep with myself: Paul is saying that this man Onesimus really knows how to serve, and his first thought was to keep him for himself, being old, cold, and in chains; Onesimus would have been able to do quite a nice service for Paul. In order that in thy behalf he might serve me: what a wonderful tribute he pays to Philemon, saying that he would keep Onesimus, in place of Philemon, whom he knew would love to be there to help Paul. In the bonds of the glad Tidings: Onesimus served Paul in the bonds of the gospel, and he would like to have him stay and keep on serving, but he couldn't do that because it would serve better for him to return to his master and make things right.
Verse 14, "But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly."
LGT "But apart from thy mind I wished to do nothing, that not of necessity thy good might be, but of willingness."
But apart from thy mind I wish to do nothing: Paul says that he would not even think of retaining Onesimus for himself without the full approval of Philemon; if Philemon wanted to send Onesimus back to Paul, that would meet with Paul's approval, for he could use him. Whether or not Philemon sent him back there is no way of knowing. That not of necessity thy good might be: Paul would never keep Onesimus for himself without Philemon's consent, and that it would have to be that he sent him back willingly. Onesimus went away from Philemon a thief, and is sent back from Paul a brother in Christ. But of willingness: this is the only way Paul would consider keeping Onesimus.
Verse 15, "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;"
LGT "For perhaps because of this he was parted [from thee] for a little time, in order that eternally him thou mightest possess:"
For perhaps: Paul says I sent him back, otherwise the purpose he was parted from thee might have been lost. Because of this he was parted from thee for a little time: Paul is about to relate the divine purpose the slave left Philemon; Paul does not say the slave ran away, for this might have irritated Philemon, and he would have missed the divine point, but he says he parted from thee for a brief time. In order that eternally him thou mightest possess: Onesimus ran away a thieving slave, but returned a beloved Christian brother; and this he will remain forever. He is still a slave according to Roman law, but now he is a family member, and he is Philemon's brother now in this life, and in the life to come.
Verse 16, "Not now a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?"
LGT "No longer as a bondsmen, but above a bondsmen, a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much rather to you both in the flesh and in [the] Lord."
No longer as a bondsmen: Philemon may now treat Onesimus as a brother in the Lord rather than a slave. A beloved brother: he is now as you are, a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Especially to me: he had a special place in Paul's heart, for Paul led him to the Lord, and he now considered Onesimus his spiritual child. Thinking about it, Paul sure has a large spiritual family, both then, and in eternity. And how much rather to you: he is specially dear to Philemon because he was a servant in Philemon's house, and he now has returned voluntarily a beloved Christian Brother, and will be a delightful addition to Philemon's household. In the flesh and in the Lord: "In the flesh Philemon had the brother for a slave: in the Lord he had the slave for a brother" (Meyer).
Verse 17, "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself."
LGT "If therefore you hold me a partner, receive him as me."
This verse sounds the death knell to slavery wherever it exists, then, and in this world in which we live. The Greek word for "partner" is koinonia, fellowship; Paul says that he and Philemon are partners in the Lord, that is, they share mutual fellowship in the Lord. Paul begs Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as he would receive Paul, a joint heir and partner in fellowship with the Lord. As believers we are all partners with Christ; and this means we have as much right to heaven as Christ has, and our Heavenly Father loves us with exactly the same love He has for His only begotten Son.
Verse 18, "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account."
LGT "But if anything he wronged you, or owes, put this to my account."
The "if" in this verse is in the first class condition meaning that Paul assumes it to be true that Onesimus wronged Philemon. I am sure that Onesimus must have repented and told Paul what he had done. It is not revealed here, but it is not necessary, for the fact is that Onesimus is born again, and Paul seeks to set the record straight by assuming the slaves bad debt. Paul is telling Philemon, 'if we are partners, and we are, accept Onesimus back the same as you would receive me'.
Verse 19, "I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest me own thine own self besides."
LGT "I Paul wrote [it] with my [own] hand, I will repay: in order that I may not say to thee that even thyself to me thou owest also."
I Paul wrote it with my own hand: Paul did not dictate this letter to an amanuensis such as He did regularly to Luke. I will repay: This is a promissory note, and that is why he adds this here instead of at the end of the letter. In order that I may not say to thee even thyself to me thou owest also: here Paul delicately reminds Philemon that he also led him to the Lord. This is a debt Philemon could never repay; and of course, Paul is not expecting repayment, only that he realize that Onesimus is a new man, and that he will be very profitable to Philemon as a Christian brother. Paul is making the point that whatever the slave owed him, it is of small value compared to his eternal welfare, and that he should receive Onesimus back as a beloved brother and forget about whatever happened between them in the past.
Verse 20, "Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord."
LGT "Yea, brother, I may from thee have profit in [the] Lord: refresh my affections in [the] Lord."
Yea, brother: Paul is saying to Philemon, take this view of brotherhood into account as you make your decision. I may profit from thee in the Lord: that I may rejoice knowing the Lord is in this decision; now, says Paul, let me rest in the assurance that you have made the right decision. Refresh my affections in the Lord: Paul is saying that if Philemon receives Onesimus back with the grace of a fellow-labor of Paul's, it would sooth the anxiety Paul had for his dear brother Onesimus.
Verse 21, "Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."
LGT "Being persuaded of thy compliance I write to thee, knowing that even above the thing which I say you will do."
Being persuaded of thy compliance: Paul felt that he knew Philemon would agree with him and handle the situation as unto the Lord. I write thee: Paul is writing this letter to help persuade Philemon to set Onesimus free; but he does not want it to be a command, for then Philemon would miss out in exercising grace, the same as that which was given him. Knowing that even above the thing which I say you will do: Paul is completely persuaded that Philemon will do the right thing, and this will give Paul exceeding refreshing to his soul.
Verse 22, "But withal prepare me also lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you."
LGT "But withal also prepare me a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you."
But withal: with your kindly reception of Onesimus. Also prepare me a lodging: Paul expected a speedy release from prison and he expected to be able to go to Colosse and see for himself how Philemon handled the situation regarding Onesimus. Philemon was accustomed to showing hospitality to the saints (vs. 5), and so Paul asks him to see to it that a place would be prepared for him upon his visit there. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you: Paul asks that Philemon pray that he would be released soon and that he would be able to come and visit him soon. Paul did not feel that his visit would be the least bit of an imposition on Philemon, for he was such a gracious host.
Final Greetings
Verse 23, "There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus."
LGT "Salute thee Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus:"
Epaphras was the preacher in Colosse and Laodicea; he evidently started the work there. (Col 4:12) The term "fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus" is used metaphorically, that is, positionally of both of them being in Christ.
Verse 24, "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers."
LGT "Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers."
These are all named in detail in Col. 4:10-14.
Verse 25, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."
LGT "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."
Paul ends this wonderful personal letter with a personal greeting to all his friends, wishing them the grace of God to be their only portion.
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