Bible Commentaries

Analysis and Annotation

1. The greeting (Philemon 1:1-3)

2. Recognition of Philemon’s faith and love (Philemon 1:4-7)

3. Concerning the reception of Onesimus (Philemon 1:8-21)

4.The conclusion (Philemon 1:22-25)

Philemon 1:1-3

He speaks of himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus; the Lord had made him a prisoner. He addresses Philemon (meaning: friendly, loving), the beloved, and his fellow-laborer. Apphia was probably the wife of Philemon; Archippus is called “fellow soldier”; he ministered in the Colossian assembly (Colossians 4:17). Greeting is also extended “to the church” which was gathered in the house of Philemon. While the Epistle is addressed to Philemon personally and Paul appeals to him in behalf of Onesimus, the gathered assembly was equally to be interested in this runaway Slave, who was now returning as a brother beloved and therefore to be received by them in Christian fellowship. The Lord had received Onesimus and he had become through grace, a member of the body of Christ; he belonged to the Colossian assembly. Therefore in addressing the Colossians Paul had written of Onesimus as “a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you” (Colossians 4:9).

Philemon 1:4-7

He thanked God for Philemon, making mention of him always in his prayers. He did not know Philemon personally, but had heard of his love and faith toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints. And he prayed for him “that the fellowship of the faith may become effectual by the acknowledgment of every good thing that is in us toward Christ Jesus.” His faith was to manifest itself still more by exhibiting every good thing which Christians possess to the glory of Christ. With these words of commendation, recognition and encouragement, he opens the way to plead for Onesimus.

Philemon 1:8-21

For this reason, because of love which was in Paul’s heart for Philemon, he did not use his authority to enjoin upon him what was meet as to the reception of a good-for-nothing slave, who had been saved by grace and accepted in the Beloved. He beseeches instead, and that “for love’s sake”--his love for Philemon and Philemon’s love for Onesimus, for he was entitled to this love, being a saint in Christ. And he beseeches, “being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of the Lord.” Courteously he repeats “I beseech thee,” and then he mentions him who was so dear to his own heart--”I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, who in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.” Onesimus (meaning helpful) shows the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A miserable, unprofitable slave, a runaway thief, had become a child of God, born again, and the loving servant of the Lord presses him to his bosom, calls him “my child” and speaks of him as being now profitable to him and to Philemon. Oh! the wonders of divine grace.

“Whom I have sent again; thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel; but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.” What loving words these are! He gives Philemon to understand that Onesimus had endeared himself in such a way that he was as dear to him as his own heart. He would have liked to retain him and keep him at his side in Rome, for he would have performed all the services for Paul which Philemon would have rendered to him if he were in Rome. But without Philemon’s consent he would do nothing, so that his action might not be of necessity, forced by what Paul had done, and not voluntarily.

“For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever, 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?” How delicately he expresses it all! He does not speak of Onesimus as having run away, as trying to escape forever from serfdom, but that “he departed for a season.” God’s providence is beautifully touched upon, when Paul thus states that he perhaps departed for a season (Greek, an hour) so that Philemon might receive him forever, not now as a slave, but above a slave, a brother beloved. And so that Philemon might not take offense at Paul asking him to receive his runaway slave as a brother beloved, he tells Philemon that he is a beloved brother especially to himself--and then how much more to Philemon who had a claim on him.

Human slavery, so universal in apostolic days, so full of misery, is indirectly dealt with in this letter to Philemon. It may be rightly called the first antislavery document and petition ever written and presented.

“Paul lays here broad and deep the foundation of a new relation between master and servant, a relation in which, while there is subordination of the one to the other, there is also a common brotherhood to be acknowledged and an equality before God to be maintained. Christianity would melt the fetters from the enslaved by the fervour of its love. Men’s method commonly is, to strike them off by armed revolution” (Professor Moorhead).

And he continues, “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account.” Philemon 1:17 connects well with Philemon 1:12. If Philemon counted Paul as in Christian fellowship, he is to receive Onesimus as if he were Paul, “receive him as myself.” Onesimus had probably confessed his theft to Paul, and again he uses the choicest words to approach this delicate matter. He does not call it “theft” outright, but writes “if he hath wronged thee” and that again he softens to “or oweth thee aught,” then he declares himself ready to make good the loss and assume the debt in place of the slave Onesimus--”put that on mine account.” These five words “put that on mine account” are translated in Romans 5:13, by the word “impute.” How blessedly this illustrates the gospel. indeed this Epistle to Philemon is a perfect and practical illustration of the gospel of grace, the gospel Paul preached, and which is unfolded in the larger Epistles. What the gospel does for the poor slave of sin, how he becomes a son and a brother, profitable instead of unprofitable, a member of the body of Christ, may be traced in these verses.

He wrote this Epistle, not as he usually did, by an amanuensis, but with his own hand! That shows again what a fine character he was. He had full confidence in Philemon not alone that he would grant him his request, but that he would even do more than he had asked.

We do not know from Scripture what became of Onesimus. According to the “Apostolical Canons” he was emancipated by his master. Another tradition says that he became a servant of the Lord ministering in Macedonia, and that he was martyred in Rome. We shall meet him with all the other saints in glory.

Philemon 1:22-25

Paul during his first imprisonment always anticipated his release; he and others prayed for it (Philemon 1:22). And so he expects to come to Colosse, and asked Philemon to prepare him a lodging. The salutations from Epaphras, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Lucas, with the word of blessing, conclude the Epistle.