Philemon 1:12

12 Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

Philemon 1:12 Meaning and Commentary

Philemon 1:12

Whom I have sent again
From Rome to Colosse, or to Philemon, wherever he was, along with this epistle:

thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels;
meaning his son, who, in a spiritual sense, came out of his bowels, to whom he stood in the relation of a spiritual father; so the Syriac version renders it, as my son, so receive him; see ( Genesis 15:4 ) ( 2 Samuel 16:11 ) and for whom he had a most strong affection, and tender regard; his bowels yearned for him, and he suggests by this expression, that should he reject him, it would give him the utmost pain and uneasiness; and he should be obliged to cry out as the Prophet Jeremy did, "my bowels, my bowels, I am pained at the very heart"; ( Jeremiah 4:19 ) wherefore he entreats him to receive him again into his house and family, into his service, and into his heart and affections, where the apostle had received him.

Philemon 1:12 In-Context

10 My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,

11 Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

12 Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

13 Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:

14 But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.