Friday, 20 July 2018

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, Philemon 1:15

Paul now sums up his thoughts of verses 12-14, as is indicated by the word “For.” He is making a summary statement as to why he is sending Onesimus back, including a possible reason why things turned out as they had.… Read the rest

Thursday, 19 July 2018

But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. Philemon 1:14

Paul’s words of the previous verse said that he “wished to keep” Onesimus with him. He then said that this was so that he could minister to Paul on Philemon’s behalf.… Read the rest

Wednesday, 18 July 2018

…whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. Philemon 1:13

The words, “whom I wished to keep,” refer to Onesimus who was Paul’s “own heart.” He had a great desire that he would keep him there with him.… Read the rest

Tuesday, 17 July 2018

I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, Philemon 1:12

The Greek verb of the first sentence is what as known as an epistolary aorist. It literally reads, “I did send.” The letter assumes the arrival of Onesimus at the time it is received, even though he is with Paul at the time it is written.… Read the rest

Monday, 16 July 2018

…who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. Philemon 1:11

Paul now makes a pun based on the meaning of the name of Onesimus. As noted previously, his name means “Useful,” as in “profitable,” or in “advantage.” Now, using a different Greek word, euchréstos, which carries the same basic meaning, he notes that Onesimus was once “unprofitable to you.”

Philemon had a slave named “Useful,” and his slave was apparently of no value to him.… Read the rest