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Philemon 9 – Aged
V.9 – Aged
Some argue “ambassador” (presbeutes) should be the reading because:
1) Eph.6:20 ‑ “I am an ambassador in chains” ‑ is a parallel text;
2) “Presbutes” is used sometimes for “presbeutes“;
3) If Archippus was Philemon’s son then there could not be such an age difference between Paul and Philemon.
The evidence for “aged” is:
1) In Eph.6:20 the verb form is used, not the noun, making the passages not so parallel;
2) Lk.1:18 and Tit.2:2 use “presbute” to refer to age;
3) It fits the tone of the letter more accurately ‑ “aged” has a more pitiable sound (psychological edge);
4) It does not matter about the age since Paul assuredly aged prematurely because of his trials and constant concern over the churches (2 Cor.11:23‑29). It has been conjectured Paul could have been around 60 at this time.
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