Philemon 1:15

15 forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam a te ut aeternum illum recipere

Philemon 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.

Philemon 1:15 In-Context

13 quem ego volueram mecum detinere ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis evangelii

14 sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere uti ne velut ex necessitate bonum tuum esset sed voluntarium

15 forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam a te ut aeternum illum recipere

16 iam non ut servum sed plus servo carissimum fratrem maxime mihi quanto autem magis tibi et in carne et in Domino

17 si ergo habes me socium suscipe illum sicut me