Philemon 1

Philemon 1:1

PRisoner of Jesus Christ] That is, for Jesus Christ, as v. 13. bonds of the Gospel, Ephesians 3:1. Which circumstance he toucheth upon the rather to move Philemon to pitie and compassion, that he would not deny his earnest request in the behalfe of Onesimus, and thereby adde affliction to his affliction.

Philemon 1:2

belved] Gr. Tec. sister.

Apphia] Theodoret affirmeth that this Apphia was Philemons wife, & in the suoscription of this Epistle in a very ancient manuscript, thes. words are, To Philemon and Appiha, Master and Mistrsseof Onesimus. And if she not philemons wife, it is not like the Apostle would have put her in the inscription in this letter, which he wrote in behalfe of Philemons servant.

Archippus] This Archippus is conceived to be the same, of whom the Apostle speaketh, Colossians 4:17. to whom Onesimus delivered Saint Pauls Epistle to the Colossians, who being Pastour at Colosse might prevaile the more Philemon, one of his flock, at whose house he lay.

Philemon 1:4

I thank my God, &c.] See 1 Thess. 1. 2. 2 Thess. 1. 3.

Philemon 1:5

toward all saints] Either he taketh faith in a larger sense, and so it may extend to saints. For although we beleeve not in them, yet we beleeve them, as we reade Exodus 14:31. They beleeved the Lord & his servant Moses. Or else the words towards all saints, are to be referred to the word love, and towards the Lord Jesus to the word faith; and this is made more evident by the Syriack translation, in which the words are transposed after this manner, hearing of thy faith, and thy love which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all saints, Col. 1. 4.

Philemon 1:6

communication of thy faith, &c.] That is, the fruits of thy faith. In some copies it is, may be evident, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and that seemeth to be the true reading: howsoever the sense is much at one, I pray that the charitable actions which proceed from the faith may be a cleare evidence, and give an effectuall demonstration of the holy graces that are in thee.

by] Gr. in.

in] Gr. to.

Philemon 1:7

bowels of the saints] Thou hast comforted the saints at the very heart, and given them much ease and refocillation in the heat of persecution.

Philemon 1:10

for my sonne] Gr. concerning.

Onesimus] See Colossians 4:9.

Philemon 1:11

unprofitable] He evidently alludeth to the name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Onesimus, which in Greeke signifieth profitable: while he was thy servant before and an unbeleever, he was contrary to his name, utterly unprofitable; but now upon his conversion he he will make good his name, and prove truly Onesimus, that is, profitable to thee and me.

Philemon 1:12

mine onw bowels] As if he were my own sonne, begotten of mine own body, 2 Samuel 16:11.

Philemon 1:16

both in the flesh and in the Lord] Both in worldly and civill respect, and also spirituall. It may be also that Onesimus though a servant, yet was some way of kin to Philemon.

Philemon 1:19

with mine own hand] This is as it were a bill or obligation wherein he promiseth to pay the damage Onesimus had done unto his Master, that it might not stand in the way of his reconciliation.

albeit I do] Gr. that I may not say.

I do not say] I might request the to put up that debt or dammage in exchange of those spirituall gifts which thou hast received by my means, whereby thou art obliged to me for the salvation of thy soule, but in this I will gladly forgoe my own right, intending to give the full and entire satisfaction for any dammage thou hast sustained by Onesimus.