PHILEMON—NOTE ON 1–3 Greetings. The beginning of this letter follows Paul’s typical style, but it is addressed to a person rather than an entire community of believers.
How did a person become a bondservant? Being a “bondservant” in NT times (v. 16) was different from many of the more recent kinds of slavery. Bondservants were bound to serve their master for a specific period of time. People did not necessarily become slaves because of their race, nor were they completely without legal rights. A person might become a slave as punishment for a crime or as a way to pay off a debt.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 1 On Timothy, see Introduction to 1 Timothy.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 2 Apphia may have been Philemon’s wife. Archippus may have been Philemon’s son. He may have had a significant ministry in Colossae (see Col. 4:17). the church in your house. The early Christians met in private homes. Philemon opened his home in Colossae (Col. 4:15; see note on 1 Cor. 16:19).
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 4–7 Thanksgiving and Prayer. Before Paul makes his appeal, he expresses his gratitude for Philemon (vv. 4–5) and describes how he prays for him (vv. 6–7).
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 6 Sharing as used here includes the ideas of generosity, partnership, and fellowship. These result from the common faith and common life that believers have in Christ. Paul lays the groundwork for his appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. knowledge of every good thing. That is, a deep awareness and experience of the blessings of Christ.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 7 hearts. See note on v. 12.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 8–20 Paul’s Appeal to Philemon for Onesimus. Paul makes his appeal by first describing the remarkable change that has happened to Onesimus (vv. 8–12). He explains how helpful Onesimus would be to him in his imprisonment (vv. 13–14). Paul then suggests that God has been sovereignly involved in this situation, so that Philemon may receive Onesimus back now as a fellow Christian (vv. 15–16). Onesimus will therefore be all the more useful to Philemon. He concludes with a direct appeal that Philemon receive Onesimus back as he would receive Paul himself (vv. 17–20).
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 8–9 Bold suggests a “frankness” or “openness” to speak freely about difficult matters. an old man. Paul may have been 60 or older.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 10 The name Onesimus means “useful” or “profitable.” This name was frequently given to bondservants. Onesimus is also mentioned in Col. 4:9 as accompanying Tychicus with the letter to the Colossians.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 11 useless . . . useful. The play on words describes the “before and after” of Onesimus’s conversion. By stealing from Philemon and running away, Onesimus had become “useless.” Having repented and become obedient to Christ, Onesimus had now become “useful” both to Paul and to Philemon.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 12 my very heart. Not the common word for heart, but literally “internal organs” (especially the stomach and intestines). The word indicates affection, intimacy, and deep love (see vv. 7, 20; Phil. 2:1; Col. 3:12).
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 15 why he was parted from you. God is understood to be sovereignly behind the events. It is like Joseph’s remark to his brothers that “it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen. 45:8).
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 16 no longer as a bondservant. Paul expects an entirely transformed relationship between Philemon and Onesimus based on the fact that Onesimus was now Philemon’s beloved brother.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 17 Partner is from the same root word as “sharing” in v. 6.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 18–19 If he has wronged you suggests that Onesimus probably took money from Philemon when he ran away. Roman society expected brutal punishment of runaway slaves or bondservants, at times resulting in death. (Regarding servitude in Roman society, see notes on 1 Cor. 7:21 and Eph. 6:5, and the esv Preface.) I, Paul, write this with my own hand. Although Paul was probably dictating the letter to Timothy (see Philem. 1), Paul signs his own name. This action gives his personal guarantee that he will repay any loss Philemon has experienced because of Onesimus’s actions. This is a remarkable offer, considering that Paul was a prisoner at the time. owing me even your own self. A reference to the fact that Philemon was converted through Paul’s ministry. Philemon “owed” Paul his eternal life. The debt that Onesimus owed to Philemon, therefore, was tiny by comparison.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 20 Refresh my heart in Christ. See note on v. 12.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 21–25 Personal Remarks and Greetings. Paul concludes the letter by sharing his plans to travel to Colossae (vv. 21–22). He also sends greetings from various coworkers in Rome (vv. 23–25).
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 21 Even more could suggest freeing Onesimus or perhaps sending Onesimus back to minister to Paul (compare vv. 13–14). Paul may have deliberately given Philemon the freedom to decide which course of action would be best.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 22 prepare a guest room for me. Paul hopes to be released from prison and come to Colossae for a visit.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 23 Epaphras is one of Philemon’s fellow Colossians. God had used him to plant the church in Colossae (Col. 1:7; 4:12). fellow prisoner. The circumstances of Epaphras’s arrest are unknown.
PHILEMON—NOTE ON 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke are also named in Col. 4:10, 14. For Mark, see Acts 12:12. For Aristarchus, see Acts 19:29. Demas later was drawn away by worldly pursuits and deserted Paul (2 Tim. 4:10). Luke is almost certainly the one who authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts (see 2 Tim. 4:11). Luke was apparently with Paul throughout his two-year imprisonment in Caesarea and also during his two-year Roman imprisonment.