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Philemon 15 – Perhaps
Up to this point Philemon might argue with Paul, but he could not argue with God. Perhaps (and words similar) is filled with titillation and imagination. This word raises the great question of God’s providence. In this verse we are given two answers:
1) The word perhaps shows man’s uncertainty as to when God works,
2) Providence does not necessitate the miraculous.
With the possibility of God being involved, how could Philemon reject Paul and/or harm Onesimus?
MacLaren says,
“we are not to be too sure of what God means by such and such a thing, as some of us are wont to be, as if we had been sworn of God’s privy‑council….a humble `perhaps’ often grows into a `verily, verily’ ‑ and a hasty, overconfident `verily, verily’ often dwindles to a hesitating `perhaps.’ Let us not be in too great a hurry to make sure that we have the key of the cabinet where God keeps his purposes, but content ourselves with `perhaps’ when we are interpreting the often questionable ways of His providence, each of which has many meanings and many ends.” (ibid., Vincent’s, p.521.)
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