Filemone 1:15

15 Perciocchè, forse per questa cagione egli si è dipartito da te per un breve tempo, acciocchè tu lo ricoveri in perpetuo;

Filemone 1:15 Meaning and Commentary

Philemon 1:15

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season
The apostle in this clause seems to soften this business of Onesimus in running away from his master; he calls it not a running away, but a departure, an absence from him, and that but for a little while; and suggests that the hand of God might be in it; that there was an overruling providence that attended it, such as was in Joseph's going down into Egypt; and that this separation of Onesimus from his master, for a short time, was in order that they should come together again, and never part more, as follows:

that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
or during life, referring to the law in ( Exodus 21:6 ) or to all eternity, since they were in the same spiritual relation, partakers of the same grace, and had a right to the same heavenly inheritance, and should be together with Christ for evermore.

Filemone 1:15 In-Context

13 Io lo voleva ritenere appresso di me, acciocchè in vece tua mi ministrasse nei legami dell’evangelo;

14 ma non ho voluto far nulla senza il tuo parere; acciocchè il tuo beneficio non fosse come per necessità, ma di spontanea volontà.

15 Perciocchè, forse per questa cagione egli si è dipartito da te per un breve tempo, acciocchè tu lo ricoveri in perpetuo;

16 non più come servo, ma da più di servo, come caro fratello, a me sommamente; ora, quanto più a te, ed in carne, e nel Signore?

17 Se dunque tu mi tieni per consorte, accoglilo come me stesso.