Philemon 1
DODDPhilemon 1:1
Parallels: Philemon 5
Paul intending to intercede with Philemon, in favour of his fugitive servant Onesimus, introduces his design with a most affectionate and proper salutation. Philem. ver. 1—7.
Philemon 1. PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow abourer;
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house;
Philemon 1.
PAUL, a well known prisoner in the cause of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, not unknown, join their salutations to Philemon our beloved friend, and pious fellow labourer in the work and gospel of our blessed Redeemer, and one of the pastors of the Colossian church: And we also address them to the beloved Apphia, his pious consort, and to his associate in the ministry, Archippus, (Col. iv. 17,) our fellow soldier in that holy warfare in which we are engaged; and to the little church
- To the beloved Apphia.] It has been Observed, that this lady and Archippus are probably named in a view of engaging their good offices with Philemon, in favour of Onesimus; and no doubt Paul would wish they might be engaged: but, separate from that view, it would have been natural and decent to mention them both.
Paul introduces his design with a proper salutation.
of Christians [that is] in thine house, as we know thou art so happy as to have several of thy numerous family united to thee, and to us, in the bonds of the Lord. May grace and peace, that abundance of spiritual blessings, and that happiness resulting from them, which we so often wish to our Christian friends, when we
Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
are addressing them by letter, [be] unto you from God our gracious and bountiful Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, to whose intercession we owe our interest in the Divine favour.
You may be sure, my dear Philemon, that though absent from you, and surrounded with many cares and sorrows, yet far from being unmindful of you in my addresses to the throne of grace, I always thank my God on your account, when I am making mention of thee in my prayers; Hearing, with greater pleasure than I can express, of the steady faith which thou hast, and always maintainest, towards the Lord Jesus Christ, as the great object to which our faith as Christians is directed, and of thy ardent love to all the saints, who are the excellent of the earth, and the most deserving our esteem and affection. It is therefore matter of my most fervent prayer that these promising openings may be abundantly answered; and that thy communion with us in the faith of our blessed Redeemer, the advantages of which thou doest now so happily share, may be more and more apparently efficacious in extorting from all that behold it the due acknowledgment of every good and valuable thing which is in you all towards Christ Jesus, and all those whom he is pleased to own and favour. Permit me to say this, in my own name, and that of my companion Timothy; for we are ourselves greatly rejoiced and comforted by thy love, which thou art in so many generous ways expressing to our fellow Christians; and particularly, that the bowels of the poor saints are refreshed by thee our dear
Of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and of thy love to all the saints.] The words in the original stand s they are placed in our version; and any instances of such a transposition are roduced by Dr. Whitby, in his learned
note on this place; but Mr. Blackwall justly observes, that our language does not admit of the like, and therefore proposes the rendering we have followed. Blackwall’s Sac. Clas. Vol. I. p. 87.
Reflections on Paul’s introduction to the epistle.
brother, while thou feedest and relievest the poor, and makest those possessions which Providence hath given thee, a general good. None of the hungry that are fed at thy table can find a supply of their necessities more sensible and delightful than the joy we feel, from the report of so beneficent a conduct, in one whom we so tenderly regard.
IMPROVEMENT.
IF any could be so weak as to think the character of the Christian and the minister, at all inconsistent with that of the well bred man, they must see a remarkable demonstration to the contrary in this familiar epistle of St. Paul to his friend Philemon; which is conducted with the happiest address, and which, in true politeness, may vie with that of the greatest masters of the epistolary style in antiquity. The Introduction (the length of which obliges us to separate it from the remainder to which it is so happily connected) leads us naturally to a variety of useful remarks, and conveys important instruction in the vehicle of well deserved praise. How elevated soever the station of Philemon might be, and how plentiful soever his circumstances, it was his chief glory and felicity to be so distinguished for faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and love to all the saints. And indeed it is most unworthy the profession we make of faith in Christ, as the great Head of the church, not to love all his members; unworthy our character of saints, not to feel a sympathetic affection for all that are sanctified. If others are deficient here, as alas! many are too sadly deficient, let us exert ourselves so much the more, and labour to give the most substantial demonstrations of our love. It will be an honour to us, and to the Christian name, that our communion in this precious faith should extort an acknowledgment of good things in us, from all who are intimately acquainted and conversant with us. Thus shall we diffuse happiness in a wide circle; for it is a sincere joy to all good men, to behold the graces and the usefulness of others. Especially are the hearts of faithful and zealous ministers comforted, when the bowels of poor saints are refreshed by the liberality of the rich. They share alternately the pleasure which is felt on the side of the pious benefactors and their grateful beneficiaries; and were they, with Paul, in the confinement and necessities of a prison, the report would delight and enlarge their souls.
VOL. 5.
Paul chooses to beseech, rather than enjoin, I
Philemon 1:8
The apostle proceeds to the main business of this labours, by the happiest address that can be im Philemon kindly to receive and forgive Onesi slave, who, after having greatly injured his m been converted by St. Paul at Rome. He con particular salutations and messages. Philem.
Philemon 8.
I HAVE been expressing, my dear Philemon, the confidence I have in your excellent character, and the great pleasure with which, both I and Timothy my brother, have heard of your many generous and beneficent actions; and therefore, in reference to the particular occasion of this letter, which to so good a heart cannot be disagreeable, though I might take great freedom, in virtue of my relation to Christ, and the authority he has given me to prescribe, and enjoin that which, it [is] proper and reasonable for thee to do. I rather choose by love to entreat [thee,] being such an one as Paul the aged;ᵃ whose superior standing in life and in religion I know thou wouldst revere, though in a private station, and especially as I am now also the prisoner of Jesus Christ, whom thou wouldst, I am sure, honour, as a confessor in his cause, if I were not distinguished by so immediate a commission from him, or so long a train of services in his church. I entreat thee, I say, concerning a certain son of mine, whom I have begotten to Christ in my bonds;ᵇ
Paul the aged.] It is generally agreed, his epistle was written about the year first 63; and, if we suppose Paul to see 24 years old when Stephen was (which is consistent with his being a young man) that being about the (for we have not data sufficient ably to determine the exact time) he now be 53; and, considering how his constitution would probably be ed, by his fatigues and sufferings, be at time, he might properly chough myself, a great one advanced in age,
though not an old ma deed says, we are yo properly aged till aft he might be about 34 phen, and 63 at the de the reader be not sa these conjectures, he um between them tha more plausible.
ᵇ A son of mine, who my bonds—Onesimus. stand in the original incumbent upon me to
not detain Onesimus from his master ;
and whom I hope thou wilt upon that account be inclined to favour, knowing how dear he must be to me, considered as a soul which God hath given me at such a season as this. And it is no other than thy servant Onesimus ; Who indeed, if I may so allude to his name, did not formerly answer it, for he was once unprofitable to thee, negligent of thy business, and so conscious of having deserved thy displeasure, that he fled from it. But he now is, and I trust will be, profitable both to thee and to me, so as daily to give increasing satisfaction to us both: Whom, how agreeable and useful soever he might have been to me here, I have sent back to thee again. Do thou therefore receive him with readiness and affection. Receive him, did I say ? nay rather receive, as it were, my own bowels : a person whom I so tenderly love, that he may seem, as it were, to carry the heart of Paul along with him whithersoever he goes. Whom indeed I was desirous to have kept near me, that he might have officiated for thee, and in thy stead have attended upon me in the bonds I suffer for the sake of the gospel : for I do thee, O Philemon, the justice to believe, thou wouldst have found a pious pleasure, in every ministration of this kind, if thou wert near me. But I would do nothing in this affair without thy express consent, that thy benefit might not seem to be extorted by necessity, but appear a voluntary act. I therefore return him to thee by the first opportunity ; for perhaps he was separated from thee for a while, by the permission of Providence, to this very end, that thou mightest receive and enjoy him for ever ; that he might not only be dear and use-
because it keeps the mind in an agreeable suspense, and has a fine effect, which every reader of taste will quickly perceive.
« Was unprofitable, but now is profitable. ] It has been justly observed, that it was strange, Onesimus, who had been so wicked, in the pious family of Philemon, amidst all the religious opportunities he enjoyed there, should meet with conversion in his rambles at Rome. Instances have often happened somewhat of a similar nature ; but it is very unjustifiable, and may
probably be fatal, for any to presume on the like extraordinary interpositions of Providence and grace in their favour. The word Onesimus is pretty generally known to signify profit, and Onesiphorus is much of the same import. They were names which might perhaps be given to slaves by way of good omen, expressing an expectation, that they would bring advantage to their masters ; and it is very evident, that Paul refers to the etymology of the word.
But desires Philemon to receive him as a r
ful to thee, during all the remainder of his life, as a servant, whose ear is, as it were, bored to the door of thine house, (to allude to the Hebrew custom, Exod. xxi. 6,) but that he might indeed be a source of eternal delight to thee, in that infinitely better world, where all distinctions between masters and their slaves shall cease, even that world of complete liberty and everlasting friendship.
In the mean time receive him, not now as a fugitive slave, to be long frowned upon, and kept at a distance, for his former faults; nor treat him merely as a common servant, but as above a servant, as standing in another, a much more dear and honourable relation, a beloved brother, especially to me, as having been for some time a very useful attendant upon me in my afflictions; but how much more so to thee, to whom he belongs both in the flesh and in the Lord, as thou hast so long known him, and wilt have the pleasure of discerning more particularly how happy a change Christianity hath made in his temper and character. If therefore thou esteemest me as a friend and a companionᵈ in Christ, I beseech thee to receive him, even as thou wouldst receive myself, if I could have the satisfaction of making thee a visit in person. If he have injured thee in any pecuniary matter, or is indebted [to thee,] in consequence of any former extravagances and follies, (of which divine grace hath now, I hope, made him truly sensible,) so far as it has been the case, charge it to my account. I Paul have written [it] with my own hand, and do hereby, as it were, give thee legal security for it; I will pay it again upon demand, as far as my little substance will go. Not to say to thee that, as I was the happy instrument of thy conversion to Christ, thou owest even thine own self unto me. We will put that quite out of the question, and if thou pleasest to
ᵈ Esteemest me a companion.] L’Enfant. But the main thought which prevails translates it, “I conjure thee therefore, by all that is common between us, receive him as myself,” in imitation of Theodoret, who was no doubt an excellent commentator. But the main thought which prevails ed in the apostle’s mind seems to have been the participation they both had in the blessings of the gospel, which was the dearest bond of their friendship.
expresses his con179 dence in his obedience.
require it, I will really charge myself as thy debor, and take the first opportunity of making thee a remittance. Yes, [my] dear brother, let me prevail upon thee in this request, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; and, while thou art so ready to do good to others, and to communicate for their comfort, out of those stores which Providence has so graciously given thee, let me beseech thee to refresh my bowelsᵉ in the Lord; for the Christian consolation, which it will afford me, to see thee and Onesimus happy in each other, will be better, and more delightful than food to the hungry.
But I will not urge the matter farther; I have written to thee, in full confidence of thy ready obedience and deference to my request, and indeed, as knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say; thou wilt not think of insisting upon the exact balance of former accounts, but wilt readily embrace this thy returning servant in the arms of paternal love. At the same time I must also desire thee to prepare a lodging for me,ᶠ for, though I am as yet a prisoner, I hope that I shall, ere long, through your prayers, be granted to you; and, if Providence set me at liberty again, I intend to visit your parts, and shall, if it be convenient, cast myself on the known hospitality of your family. In the mean while, accept the greeting of our Christian brethren here at Rome, and let me particularly tell thee that Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus, salutes thee: As [also] Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow labourers, who are cordially engaged with me in the service of the gospel, and take a peculiar pleasure in lending that assistance to the churches in Rome which my confinement will not conveniently admit me to impart. I
ᵉ Refresh my bowels, [etc.] The word ἐνε- ταυτόν is wonderfully emphatical. It literally signifies to appease, or quiet; which strongly intimates the commotion he felt, through the ardour of his concern for Onesimus; and seems to represent the eagerness of his desire for his reestablishment in Philemon’s family, by the appetite of hunger. Incapable, as in many other places, of expressing this in the version, I have attempted it, though by no means with
equal spirit, in the paraphrase. Compare ver. 7, where the same word is used, and seems to be referred to here with peculiar beauty and propriety.
ᶠ Prepare a lodging for me.] Theodoret justly observes, that Paul’s mentioning his purpose of coming to lodge with Philemon quickly, would naturally add greater weight to his interposition in favour of Onesimus.
Reflections on Paul’s tenderness for Onesimus.
conclude with the best wish which the most ii. endearing Christian friendship can form: May Phil. the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ever [be] 25 with your spirit, and shed abroad on thee, and all thy companions in him, that peace and happiness which nothing but the communications of his favour can give. Amen. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
IMPROVEMENT.
How amiable is the condecension of the holy apostle! how charming and delicate his address in this whole section! which makes the immediate occasion of this letter, minute as it may 8,9 seem, matter of congratulation to the Christian world. St. Paul lays aside the authority, which his office, his age, his sufferings, gave him, to address Philemon, as on a foot of equal friendship, choosing rather, by love to entreat. Let the example be imitated by those in superior stations and relations of life; and let them learn likewise, from the tenderness which such a man expresses about this poor slave, in whom he traced the appearance of a truly Christian temper, to interest themselves in the happiness of those whose rank is far beneath their own; and learn to make the situation of their servants easy, by a kind and 16 friendly treatment. Well may such a care be expected, especially when we can look on such as brethren beloved in the Lord, and partakers with us in the same Saviour and hope.
Let those, to whom God hath blessed the labours of his faithful ministers, as the means of their conversion, remember it with pleasure, and ascribe it to the riches of Divine grace, to which all is originally to be traced; remembering also, that there is a sense in which they owe even themselves to those who have been honoured as the instruments of bringing them to 19 Christ, without an acquaintance with whom they had lost themselves and been ruined for ever. Let the kindness which Paul expresses for Onesimus, in being willing that his debt to Phile- 18 mon should be charged to his account, lead us to reflect on our 18,19 infinite obligations to a gracious Redeemer. He has suffered our ten thousand talents to be imputed to him, that his righteousness might be so imputed to us, that, for the sake of it, we should finally be readmitted to the Family of God. With an ingratitude not to be paralleled, by any thing which can pass between mortal men, we had perfidiously deserted it; but the 15 Divine goodness leaves us room humbly to hope, we may have departed from it for a while, to be received into it for ever. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with our Spirit, to produce those strong impressions of wonder, thankfulness, and love, 25 which ought to fill it, in every remembrance of such overflowing and triumphant mercy! Amen.
END OF THE FIFTH VOLUME.
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