Reference: Philemon, Epistle To
Easton
was written from Rome at the same time as the epistles to the Colossians and Ephesians, and was sent also by Onesimus. It was addressed to Philemon and the members of his family.
It was written for the purpose of interceding for Onesimus (q.v.), who had deserted his master Philemon and been "unprofitable" to him. Paul had found Onesimus at Rome, and had there been instrumental in his conversion, and now he sends him back to his master with this letter.
This epistle has the character of a strictly private letter, and is the only one of such epistles preserved to us. "It exhibits the apostle in a new light. He throws off as far as possible his apostolic dignity and his fatherly authority over his converts. He speaks simply as Christian to Christian. He speaks, therefore, with that peculiar grace of humility and courtesy which has, under the reign of Christianity, developed the spirit of chivalry and what is called 'the character of a gentleman,' certainly very little known in the old Greek and Roman civilization" (Dr. Barry). (See Slave.)
Hastings
PHILEMON, EPISTLE TO.
1. Occasion and contents.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Were you called [while] a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather make use of [it]. For the one who is called in the Lord [while] a slave is the Lord's freedperson. Likewise the one who is called [while] free is a slave of Christ. read more. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Each one in [the situation] in which he was called, brothers--in this he should remain with God.
On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called:
For this you know {for certain}, that every sexually immoral [person], or unclean [person], or greedy [person] (who is an idolater), does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these [things] the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. read more. Therefore do not be sharers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Live like children of light (for the fruit of the light [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chains, that {in them} I may speak freely, as it is necessary for me to speak.
just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, [since] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you are sharers of grace with me.
{What is the result?} Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. But also I will rejoice,
Slaves, obey your {human} masters in everything, not {while being watched}, as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Masters, grant your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you also have a master in heaven.
praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also {I am a prisoner},
Let your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, so that [you] may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.
together with Onesimus, my faithful and dear brother, who is [one] of you. They will make known to you all {the circumstances} here.
The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's. Remember my {imprisonment}. Grace [be] with you.
The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's. Remember my {imprisonment}. Grace [be] with you.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,
I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, [because I] hear about your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. read more. [I pray] that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge [of] every good [thing] that [is] in us for Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Therefore, [although I] have great confidence in Christ to order you [to do what] is proper, instead I appeal to [you] because of love, [since I] am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
instead I appeal to [you] because of love, [since I] am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
instead I appeal to [you] because of love, [since I] am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus.
I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus.
I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus. Once he [was] useless to you, but now [he is] useful to you and to me,
Once he [was] useless to you, but now [he is] useful to you and to me, whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart,
whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart, whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel.
whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel.
whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel. But apart from your consent, I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good [deed] might be not as according to necessity, but according to [your own] free will.
But apart from your consent, I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good [deed] might be not as according to necessity, but according to [your own] free will. For perhaps because of this, he was separated [from you] for a time, in order that you might have him back forever, read more. no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If therefore you consider me a partner, receive him as [you would] me.
I, Paul, write [this] with my [own] hand: I will pay it back, lest I mention to you that {you owe me even your very self besides}.
I, Paul, write [this] with my [own] hand: I will pay it back, lest I mention to you that {you owe me even your very self besides}. Yes, brother, I ought to have some benefit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Yes, brother, I ought to have some benefit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you [because I] know that you will do even beyond what I say.
Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you [because I] know that you will do even beyond what I say. At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.