Bible Commentaries
Philemon

Phm THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON. THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPISTLE AS A WHOLE. Philemon 1:1-2 . EPISTOLARY SALUTATIONS. Philemon 1:3 . BENEDICTION. Philemon 1:4-6 . PAUL''S PRAYER FOR PHILEMON. Philemon 1:7 -. PAUL''S JOY IN PHILEMON:CONFESSED. - Philemon 1:7 . BOWELS OF SAINTS REFRESHED. Philemon 1:8 . I MIGHT ENJOIN (BUT I DO NOT). Philemon 1:9 . PAUL THE AGED. Philemon 1:10-11 . ONESIMUS PROFITABLE (ONESIMOS) TO THEE AND ME. Philemon 1:12 . RECEIVE HIM AS MYSELF. Philemon 1:13 . ONESIMUS MINISTERED IN THY STEAD. Philemon 1:14 . THY BENEFIT. Philemon 1:15-16 . BELOVED TO ME AND THEE. Philemon 1:17 . RECEIVE HIM AS MYSELF. Philemon 1:18-19 -. PAUL THE DEBTOR. - Philemon 1:19 . I DO NOT SAY (BUT I MIGHT). Philemon 1:20 -. PAUL''S JOY IN PHILEMON:BESOUGHT. - Philemon 1:20 . "REFRESH MY BOWELS." Philemon 1:21-22 . PHILEMON''S PRAYER FOR PAUL. Philemon 1:23-24 . EPISTOLARY. Philemon 1:25 . BENEDICTION. NOTES ON THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON. 1. All that we know of Philemon is to be gathered from the Epistle bearing his name. He seems to have been a believer at Colosse,from the references to certain in the church there (see Notes below), and must have been possessed of means (v. Philemon 1:22 ). Paul''s wordsindicate that he held his friend in high esteem. 2. Onesimus is the Latinized form of the Greek Onesimos, which means "useful", or "profitable". He was a slave (v. Philemon 1:16 ), and,fleeing from his master, found his way to Rome, where he was, under Paul, led to become the Lord''s freeman, and "called being a servant(slave)", he cared not for it, but was willing to return to his master''s service, whether to continue as a slave or as "brother beloved" (v. Philemon 1:16 ). Paul sends the letter by Onesimus. 3. From Colossians 4:9 . we learn that Paul had sent unto the church at Colosse Tychicus "with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother,who is one of you". For other references, see Notes. 4. The Epistle was written during Paul''s first imprisonment at Rome, probably in A.D. 62. In no one of his Epistles is more clearlyshown the great heart of the apostle in his care for every member of the church. See 2 Corinthians 11:28 , 2 Corinthians 11:29 . Philemon 1:2 ; 2 Corinthians 1:2 beloved. The texts read "sister". Apphia. Tradition says she was the wife of Philemon. Archippus. See Colossians 4:11 . fellowsoldier. Only here and Philippians 2:25 , which see. church. Appdx-186. in. Gr. kata . Appdx-104.