1 Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again.

A. D. 64. A. M. 4068.
a prisoner. 9

See on Eph 3:1 4:1 6:20 2Ti 1:8

Timothy. See on 2Co 1:1 Col 1:1 2Th 1:1

Philemon. The apostle in this epistle indulges in some fine paronomasais on the proper names. Thus Philemon, [Philemon,] affectionate, or beloved, is 'our dearly beloved;' Apphia, ([Apphia from appha,] the affectionate address of a brother or sister, according to Suidas,) is 'the beloved sister,' as several MSS., Vulgate, and others correctly read; Archippus, ([Archippos,] the ruler of the horse, for the managing of which heros were anciently famous,) is 'our fellow- soldier;' and Onesimus, ([Onesimos,] useful or profitable,) once unprofitable, is now profitable.

and fellow labourer. 24 1Co 3:9 Php 2:25 4:3 Col 4:11 1Th 3:2

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Archippus. Col 4:17

our fellow-soldier. Php 2:25 2Ti 2:3,4

the church. Ro 16:5 1Co 16:19 Col 4:15

3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

See on Ro 1:7 2Co 13:14 Eph 1:2

4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Ro 1:8 Eph 1:16 Php 1:3 Col 1:3 1Th 1:2 2Th 1:3 2Ti 1:3

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

Hearing. Ga 5:6 Eph 1:15 Col 1:4

toward the Lord. 7 Ps 16:3 Ac 9:39-41 Ro 12:13 15:25,26 1Co 16:1 1Jo 3:23 5:1,2

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

the communication. 2Co 9:12-14 Php 1:9-11 Tit 3:14 Heb 6:10 Jas 2:14,17

the acknowledging. Mt 5:16 1Co 14:25 Php 4:8 1Pe 1:5-8 2:12 3:1,16

in you. 2Pe 1:8

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

great joy. 1Th 1:3 2:13,19 3:9 2Jo 1:4 3Jo 1:3-6

the bowels. 20 2Co 7:13 2Ti 1:16

8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

bold. 2Co 3:12 10:1,2 11:21 1Th 2:2,6

enjoin. 2Co 10:8

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.

love's sake. Ro 12:1 2Co 5:20 6:1 Eph 4:1 Heb 13:19 1Pe 2:11

Paul. Ps 71:9,18 Pr 16:31 Isa 46:4

prisoner. 1 Eph 3:1 4:1

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

my son. 2Sa 9:1-7 18:5 19:37,38 Mr 9:17 1Ti 1:2 Tit 1:4

Onesimus. Col 4:9

whom. 1Co 4:15 Ga 4:19

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

unprofitable. Job 30:1,2 Mt 25:30 Lu 17:10 Ro 3:12 1Pe 2:10

profitable. Lu 15:24,32 2Ti 4:11

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

thou. Mt 6:14,15 18:21-35 Mr 11:25 Eph 4:32

mine. De 13:6 2Sa 16:11 Jer 31:20 Lu 15:20

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

in thy stead. 1Co 16:17 Php 2:30

the bonds. 1 Eph 3:1 4:1

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

without. 8,9 2Co 1:24 1Pe 5:3

thy benefit. 1Ch 29:17 Ps 110:3 1Co 9:7,17 2Co 8:12 9:5,7 1Pe 5:2

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

Ge 45:5-8 50:20 Ps 76:10 Isa 20:6 Ac 4:28

16 Not now as 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?

a brother. Mt 23:8 Ac 9:17 Ga 4:28,29 1Ti 6:2 Heb 3:1 1Pe 1:22,23 1Jo 5:1

both in. Eph 6:5-7 Col 3:22

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

thou count. Ac 16:15 2Co 8:23 Eph 3:6 Php 1:7 1Ti 6:2 Heb 3:1,14 Jas 2:5 1Pe 5:1 1Jo 1:3

receive. 10,12 Mt 10:40 12:48-50 18:5 25:40

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

put that. Isa 53:4-7 *Heb:

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.

I Paul. 1Co 16:21,22 Ga 5:2 6:11

how thou. 1Co 4:15 9:1,2 2Co 3:2 1Ti 1:2 Tit 1:4 Jas 5:19,20

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

let me. 2Co 2:2 7:4-7,13 Php 2:2 4:1 1Th 2:19,20 3:7-9 Heb 13:17 3Jo 1:4

refresh. 7,12 Php 1:8 2:1 1Jo 3:17

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

2Co 2:3 7:16 8:22 Ga 5:10 2Th 3:4

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

prepare. Ac 28:23

for I trust. Ro 15:24 Php 1:25,26 2:24 Heb 13:23 2Jo 1:12 3Jo 1:14

through. Ro 15:30-32 2Co 1:11 Php 1:19 Jas 5:16

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Epaphras. Col 1:7 4:12

my fellow-prisoner. Ro 16:7 Col 4:10

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Marcus. Ac 12:12,25 13:13 15:37-39 Col 4:10 2Ti 4:11

Aristarchus. Ac 19:29 27:2

Demas. Col 4:14 2Ti 4:10

Lucas. 2Ti 4:11

my fellow-labourers. 1,2 2Co 8:23 Php 2:25 4:3 3Jo 1:8

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

grace. See on Ro 16:20,24

your spirit. 2Ti 4:22

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON Philemon appears to have been a person of some consideration at Colosse, and in the church at that place, (ver. 1, 2. Col 4:9,17) who had been converted by the ministry of Paul, (ver. 19,) probably during his abode at Ephesus, (Ac. 19:10) Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, having, as it is generally thought, been guilty of some dishonesty, fled from his master, and came to Rome, where the apostle was at that time under confinement the first time, as appears by his expectation of being shortly released, (ver. 22,) about A. D. 62. Having by some means attended the preaching of the apostle, 'in his own hired house,' (Ac. 28:16,23) it pleased God to bless it to his conversion. After he had given satisfactory evidence of a real change, and manifested an excellent and amiable disposition, which greatly endeared him to Paul, he was sent back to his master by the apostle, who wrote this epistle to reconcile Philemon to his once unfaithful servant.