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PHall | September 30, 2009
Prison – not a pleasant subject, but nevertheless still a former or current reality for some believers. Others – never imprisoned – should have been, but escaped their proper penalty due to either God’s gracious attention or man’s negligent inattention. Most, if not all, of us are nevertheless in prison – and that is the […]
PHall | September 30, 2009
V.22 – At the Same Time Prepare for Me a Lodging If you ask someone to do you a favor and then tell them you hope to visit them, you gain the psychological edge. They know they have to succeed because you will be there to witness their efforts. This is the position in which […]
PHall | September 30, 2009
V.21 – More Than I Say “Whether Philemon pardoned Onesimus, or punished him, is not known. Only, from the earnestness with which the apostle solicited his pardon, and from the generosity and goodness of Philemon’s disposition, we may conjecture that he actually pardoned Onesimus, and even gave him his freedom, in compliance with the apostle’s […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.21 – Having Confidence in Your Obedience Whenever we tell someone that we have confidence in them and that we believe they will exceed what we request, we gain a psychological edge. And yet it cannot be stressed too emphatically that any edge that Paul sought after was not for his own personal benefit, but […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.20 – Refresh my heart Already mentioned by Paul was Philemon’s refreshing of the saints (v.7). Paul is now asking for the same “benefit.” This has both a physical and spiritual application. It seems Paul is asking for the return of Onesimus which would be a physical benefit. The spiritual is twofold: 1) That Philemon […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.19 – I Will Repay This verse is ironic (if not comical). Paul says he is not going to mention Philemon owes him, and in doing so mentions Philemon owes him. Where our translation reads, “not to mention,” the Greek literally says “that I may not say.” This is a subtle, psychological reminder. Paul set […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.18 – Wronged You or Owe You From this verse some assume Onesimus stole from Philemon which is plausible for how else could a runaway travel from Phrygia to Rome? As Paul used a euphemism in v.15, he uses the softer word “owes” instead of naming the crime. This also sets up his next statement […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.17 – If then you regard me a partner (koinonos) Paul poses a question to Philemon concerning equality. (For a Biblical definition of “equality” see 2 Cor.8:13‑15.) It’s possible Paul could be referring back to his earlier use of Philemon sharing with other Christians; if he shared with other Christians and is a sharer with […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.16 – Beloved Brother This answers how Philemon was to have him “back forever.” No matter in what other regard Philemon might consider Onesimus ‑ he is a brother. “A beloved brother” are words used in the description of Philemon (vv.1,7); and now this runaway slave is equal to Philemon in Paul’s eyes. The phrases […]
PHall | September 29, 2009
V.16 – Slave Definitions: Thayer gives two definitions that fit this passage: “a slave, bondman, man of servile condition, one who gives himself wholly to another’s will”, and “a servant, attendant”. (ibid., Thayer’s, p.1402.) Trench defines it as, “one that is in permanent relation of servitude to another, his will altogether swallowed up in the […]