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Philemon 15 – Parted
V.15 – Parted
Psychology sometimes involves “how you say what you say”. Here, Paul used euphemistic linguistics to soften the sound from “runaway” to “parted”. Vincent points out that the passive voice not the middle (he parted himself ‑ PDH) was used. This was done “as an intimation that Onesimus’ flight was divinely ordered for good”, hence “he was parted.” (ibid. Vincent’s, p.522.) If Paul had used the middle voice, the action would have been placed upon Onesimus, but since the passive voice was used, Onesimus was the receiver of the action. The KJV totally misses the important word choice of Paul: For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
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