Philemon 1

Philemon 1:1-25 . ADDRESS. THANKSGIVING FOR PHILEMON'S LOVE AND FAITH. INTERCESSION FOR ONESIMUS. CONCLUDING REQUEST AND SALUTATIONS.

This Epistle affords a specimen of the highest wisdom as to the manner in which Christians ought to manage social affairs on more exalted principles.

1. prisoner of Jesus Christ--one whom Christ's cause has made a prisoner (compare "in the bonds of the Gospel," ( Philemon 1:13 ). He does not call himself, as in other Epistles, "Paul an apostle," as he is writing familiarly, not authoritatively.
our . . . fellow labourer--in building up the Church at Colosse, while we were at Ephesus. Colossians.

2. Apphia--the Latin, "Appia"; either the wife or some close relative of Philemon. She and Archippus, if they had not belonged to his family, would not have been included with Philemon in the address of a letter on a domestic matter.
Archippus--a minister of the Colossian Church ( Colossians 4:17 ).
fellow soldier--( 2 Timothy 2:3 ).
church in thy house--In the absence of a regular church building, the houses of particular saints were used for that purpose. Observe Paul's tact in associating with Philemon those associated by kindred or Christian brotherhood with his house, and not going beyond it.

4. always--joined by ALFORD with, "I thank my God."

5. Hearing--the ground of his thanksgiving. It is a delicate mark of authenticity, that he says "hearing" as to churches and persons whom he had not seen or then visited. Now Colosse, Philemon's place of residence, he had never yet seen. Yet Philemon 1:19 here implies that Philemon was his convert. Philemon, doubtless, was converted at Ephesus, or in some other place where he met Paul.
love and faith--The theological order is first faith then love, the fruit of faith. But he purposely puts Philemon's love in the first place, as it is to an act of love that he is exhorting him.
toward . . . toward--different Greek words: "towards" . . . "unto." Towards implies simply direction; unto, to the advantage of.

6. That--The aim of my thanksgiving and prayers for thee is, in order that the, &c.
the communication of thy faith--the imparting of it and its fruits (namely, acts of love and beneficence: as Hebrews 13:16 , "to communicate," that is, to impart a share) to others; or, the liberality to others flowing from thy faith (so the Greek is translated, "liberal distribution," 2 Corinthians 9:13 ).
effectual by--Greek, "in"; the element in which his liberality had place, that is, may be proved by acts in, &c.
acknowledging--Greek, "the thorough knowledge," that is, the experimental or practical recognition.
of every good thing which is in you--The oldest manuscripts read, "which is in US," that is, the practical recognition of every grace which is in us Christians, in so far as we realize the Christian character. In short, that thy faith may by acts be proved to be "a faith which worketh by love."
in Christ Jesus--rather as Greek, "unto Christ Jesus," that is, to the glory of Christ Jesus. Two of the oldest manuscripts omit "Jesus." This verse answers to Philemon 1:5 , "thy love and faith toward all saints"; Paul never ceases to mention him in his prayers, in order that his faith may still further show its power in his relation to others, by exhibiting every grace which is in Christians to the glory of Christ. Thus he paves the way for the request in behalf of Onesimus.

7. For--a reason for the prayer, Philemon 1:4-6 .
we have--Greek, "we had."
joy and consolation--joined in 2 Corinthians 7:4 .
saints are refreshed by thee--His house was open to them.
brother--put last, to conciliate his favorable attention to the request which follows.

8. Wherefore--Because of my love to thee, I prefer to "beseech," rather than "enjoin," or authoritatively command.
I might . . . enjoin--in virtue of the obligation to obedience which Philemon lay under to Paul, as having been converted through his instrumentality.
in Christ--the element in which his boldness has place.