Philemon appears to have been a person of some consideration at Colosse, and in the church at that place (Phm_1:1, Phm_1:2, Col_4:9, Col_4:17) who had been converted by the ministry of St. Paul (Phm_1:19), probably during his abode at Ephesus (Act_19:10). Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, having, as it is generally thought, been guilty of some dishonesty, fled from his master, and came to Rome, where the apostle was at that time under confinement the first time, as appears by his expectation of being shortly released (Phm_1:22), about ad 62. Having by some means attended the preaching of the apostle, "in his own hired house," (Act_28:16, Act_28:23) it pleased God to bless it to his conversion. After he had given satisfactory evidence of a real change, and manifested an excellent and amiable disposition, which greatly endeared him to St. Paul, he was sent back to his master by the apostle, who wrote this epistle to reconcile Philemon to his once unfaithful servant.
Philemon 1
Overview
1:1 Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again.
Verse 1ad 64, am 4068a prisonerPhilemon 1:9; Ephesians 3:1, 4:1, 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:8Timothy2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1PhilemonThe apostle in this epistle indulges in some fine paronomasais on the proper names. Thus Philemon, Φιλημον [G5371], affectionate, or beloved, is "our dearly beloved;" Apphia (Απφια [G682], from απφα), the affectionate address of a brother or sister, according to Suidas), is "the beloved sister," as several manuscripts, Vulgate, and others correctly read; Archippus (Αρχιππος [G751], the ruler of the horse, for the managing of which heros were anciently famous), is "our fellow- soldier;" and Onesimus (Ονησιμος [G3682], useful or profitable), once unprofitable, is now profitable., and fellow labourer, Philemon 1:24; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Philippians 2:25, 4:3; Colossians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2ReciprocalLuke 10:2 - the labourers; 1 Corinthians 10:14 - my; 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - dear; Philemon 1:13 - the bonds; Habakkuk 3:1 - brotherVerse 2ArchippusColossians 4:17our fellowsoldierPhilippians 2:25; 2 Timothy 2:3, 2:4the churchRomans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15ReciprocalGenesis 49:8 - thy hand; Matthew 18:20 - two; 20:21 - Grant; Acts 28:23 - there came; Philemon 1:24 - my fellowlabourers; 3 John 1:8 - fellowhelpersVerse 3Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:2ReciprocalMatthew 6:21 - there; 20:21 - Grant; 2 Corinthians 1:2 - GeneralVerse 4Romans 1:8; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3ReciprocalRomans 1:9 - I make; 6:17 - But; 1 Corinthians 1:14 - thank; 2 Corinthians 9:12 - only; Philippians 4:19 - God; Colossians 1:9 - doVerse 5HearingGalatians 5:6; Ephesians 1:15; Colossians 1:4toward the LordPhilemon 1:7; Psalm 16:3; Acts 9:39-41; Romans 12:13, 15:25, 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 1 John 3:23, 5:1, 5:2Reciprocal2 Corinthians 8:4 - the ministering; Ephesians 6:18 - supplication; 6:23 - and love; Philippians 1:3 - upon; 1:27 - I may; 2:19 - that I; 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - and labour; 3:6 - faith; 4:10 - all the; 1 Timothy 6:2 - because they are; Titus 3:15 - love; Habakkuk 3:1 - which; 3:1 - and all; 3 John 1:2 - even; 1:6 - have borne witness of thy charityVerse 6the communication2 Corinthians 9:12-14; Philippians 1:9-11; Titus 3:14; Habakkuk 3:1; James 2:14, 2:17the acknowledgingMatthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 14:25; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 1:5-8, 2:12, 3:1, 3:16in you2 Peter 1:8Reciprocal1 Kings 14:13 - there is found; Matthew 25:16 - went; 2 Corinthians 1:13 - than; 8:4 - the ministering; Habakkuk 3:1 - communicateVerse 7great joy1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2:13, 2:19, 3:9; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3-6the bowelsPhilemon 1:20; 2 Corinthians 7:13; 2 Timothy 1:16ReciprocalGenesis 33:9 - my brother; Ruth 2:16 - General; 1 Chronicles 29:17 - joy thy people; Job 29:13 - I caused; Proverbs 27:11 - be wise; Isaiah 58:7 - to deal; Matthew 6:2 - when; 25:16 - went; 25:35 - I was an; Mark 14:7 - ye have; Luke 14:13 - call; Acts 16:34 - when; Romans 12:13 - Distributing; 15:32 - and may; 1 Corinthians 16:1 - the saints; 16:15 - to the; Philippians 1:4 - with; Philemon 1:5 - toward the LordVerse 8bold2 Corinthians 3:12, 10:1, 10:2, 11:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2:6enjoin2 Corinthians 10:8ReciprocalGenesis 50:17 - servants; 1 Chronicles 13:2 - If it seem; Nehemiah 5:10 - I pray you; Psalm 37:25 - I have; Jeremiah 38:20 - Obey; Acts 15:2 - should; Romans 1:28 - not convenient; 2 Corinthians 7:16 - that; Ephesians 5:4 - convenient; Philippians 4:3 - I; Philemon 1:14 - without; Habakkuk 3:1 - sufferVerse 9love's sakeRomans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:1; Ephesians 4:1; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 Peter 2:11PaulPsalm 71:9, 71:18; Proverbs 16:31; Isaiah 46:4prisonerPhilemon 1:1; Ephesians 3:1, 4:1ReciprocalJudges 21:22 - Be favourable unto them; 2 Samuel 9:1 - show him; 1 Chronicles 13:2 - If it seem; Nehemiah 5:10 - I pray you; Psalm 37:25 - I have; Proverbs 23:24 - shall have; Isaiah 11:6 - General; Acts 15:2 - should; 16:23 - they cast; 21:16 - an old; 23:18 - Paul; 1 Corinthians 1:10 - I beseech; 2 Corinthians 10:1 - I Paul; 11:23 - in prisons; Galatians 5:2 - I Paul; Philippians 4:3 - I; 1 Thessalonians 2:6 - when; 2:18 - even; 4:1 - we; 1 Timothy 5:1 - entreat; Philemon 1:14 - without; Habakkuk 3:1 - suffer; 1 Peter 5:1 - whoVerse 10my son2 Samuel 9:1-7, 18:5, 19:37, 19:38; Mark 9:17; 1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4OnesimusColossians 4:9whom1 Corinthians 4:15; Galatians 4:19ReciprocalGenesis 49:8 - thy hand; Deuteronomy 23:15 - General; Luke 6:42 - cast; 7:3 - General; Acts 28:20 - this chain; 1 Corinthians 1:10 - I beseech; Ephesians 4:1 - beseech; 6:20 - bonds; 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - we; 1 Timothy 1:18 - son; 5:1 - entreat; 6:2 - believing; Philemon 1:17 - receive; 1 Peter 2:11 - I beseech; 3 John 1:4 - thatVerse 11unprofitableJob 30:1, 30:2; Matthew 25:30; Luke 17:10; Romans 3:12; 1 Peter 2:10profitableLuke 15:24, 15:32; 2 Timothy 4:11ReciprocalGenesis 49:8 - thy hand; Jeremiah 13:7 - it was; Luke 6:42 - cast; Titus 3:8 - goodVerse 12thouMatthew 6:14, 6:15, 18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:32mineDeuteronomy 13:6; 2 Samuel 16:11; Jeremiah 31:20; Luke 15:20ReciprocalGenesis 15:4 - shall come; Micah 6:7 - body; Romans 11:14 - my; 16:2 - ye receive; 2 Corinthians 7:2 - Receive; Philippians 1:8 - in; Philemon 1:17 - receive; 1:20 - refreshVerse 13in thy stead1 Corinthians 16:17; Philippians 2:30the bondsPhilemon 1:1; Ephesians 3:1, 4:1Reciprocal1 Kings 19:21 - ministered; Matthew 20:26 - minister; Acts 28:20 - this chainVerse 14withoutPhilemon 1:8, 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Peter 5:3thy benefit1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 110:3; 1 Corinthians 9:7, 9:17; 2 Corinthians 8:12, 9:5, 9:7; 1 Peter 5:2ReciprocalJudges 5:2 - when; 2 Kings 8:9 - Thy son Benhadad; Acts 5:4 - was it not thine; 2 Corinthians 8:3 - beyond; 1 Peter 4:9 - withoutVerse 15Genesis 45:5-8, 50:20; Psalm 76:10; Isaiah 20:6; Acts 4:28ReciprocalLuke 15:10 - oneVerse 16a brotherMatthew 23:8; Acts 9:17; Galatians 4:28, 4:29; 1 Timothy 6:2; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 Peter 1:22, 1:23; 1 John 5:1both inEphesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:22ReciprocalGenesis 33:9 - my brother; Matthew 8:6 - my; Luke 15:27 - Thy brother; John 15:15 - I call; Acts 10:7 - two; 15:25 - our; 22:13 - Brother; 1 Corinthians 7:22 - is the; Ephesians 6:21 - belovedVerse 17thou countActs 16:15; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Ephesians 3:6; Philippians 1:7; 1 Timothy 6:2; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:14; James 2:5; 1 Peter 5:1; 1 John 1:3receivePhilemon 1:10, 1:12; Matthew 10:40, 12:48-50, 18:5, 25:40ReciprocalRomans 16:2 - ye receive; 2 Corinthians 7:2 - Receive; Philippians 1:5 - GeneralVerse 18put thatIsaiah 53:4-7 *Heb:ReciprocalGenesis 43:9 - will be; Leviticus 17:4 - blood shall; 1 Samuel 25:24 - Upon; 2 Samuel 2:6 - I also; Psalm 119:122 - surety; Proverbs 6:1 - if thou be; Matthew 18:29 - Have; Romans 4:8 - to whom; Colossians 3:25 - he thatVerse 19I Paul1 Corinthians 16:21, 16:22; Galatians 5:2, 6:11how thou1 Corinthians 4:15, 9:1, 9:2; 2 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; James 5:19, 5:20ReciprocalGenesis 43:9 - will be; Leviticus 17:4 - blood shall; 1 Samuel 25:24 - Upon; 2 Samuel 2:6 - I also; Psalm 119:122 - surety; Proverbs 6:1 - if thou be; 17:21 - hath; 27:11 - be wise; Matthew 6:21 - there; 18:29 - Have; Romans 4:8 - to whom; 15:27 - and; Galatians 4:19 - little; 1 Timothy 4:16 - themVerse 20let me2 Corinthians 2:2, 7:4-7, 7:13; Philippians 2:2, 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2:20, 3:7-9; Habakkuk 3:1; 3 John 1:4refreshPhilemon 1:7, 1:12; Philippians 1:8, 2:1; 1 John 3:17Reciprocal1 Chronicles 29:17 - joy thy people; Proverbs 17:21 - hath; 23:24 - shall have; 27:11 - be wise; Romans 15:32 - and may; 2 Timothy 1:16 - refreshedVerse 212 Corinthians 2:3, 7:16, 8:22; Galatians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:4ReciprocalRomans 15:14 - I; 2 Corinthians 2:9 - whether; Philippians 1:6 - confident; 2 Thessalonians 3:14 - obeyVerse 22prepareActs 28:23for I trustRomans 15:24; Philippians 1:25, 1:26, 2:24; Habakkuk 3:1; 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14throughRomans 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19; James 5:16ReciprocalRomans 1:10 - request; Ephesians 6:19 - for; Colossians 4:3 - praying; 1 Thessalonians 3:10 - praying; 5:25 - General; 1 Timothy 3:14 - hoping; Habakkuk 3:1 - that IVerse 23EpaphrasColossians 1:7, 4:12my fellowprisonerRomans 16:7; Colossians 4:10Reciprocal1 Corinthians 16:20 - the brethren; 2 Corinthians 13:13 - General; Philippians 4:21 - TheVerse 24MarcusActs 12:12, 12:25, 13:13, 15:37-39; Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11AristarchusActs 19:29, 27:2DemasColossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:10Lucas4:11my fellowlabourersPhilemon 1:1, 1:2; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25, 4:3; 3 John 1:8ReciprocalActs 20:4 - Aristarchus; 1 Corinthians 16:20 - the brethren; 2 Corinthians 13:13 - General; Philippians 4:21 - The; Colossians 4:11 - fellowworkersVerse 25graceRomans 16:20, 16:24your spirit2 Timothy 4:22ReciprocalRomans 1:7 - and the Lord; Galatians 6:18 - the grace; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 - The Lord be