Sojourn at Rome
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“Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
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hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus,
and toward all saints; that the communication of thy faith may become
effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you
in Christ Jesus.” The apostle sought gently to remind Philemon that
every good purpose and trait of character which he possessed must be
accredited to the grace of Christ; for this alone caused him to differ
from the perverse and sinful. The same grace could make the debased
criminal a child of God and a useful laborer in the gospel.
Though Paul might with authority have urged upon Philemon his
duty as a Christian, yet because of his love for him he would not
command, but chose rather the language of entreaty: “As Paul the
aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I beseech thee for my
son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds, which in time past
was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.”
He requests Philemon to receive him as his own child. He says
that it was his desire to retain Onesimus, that he might act the same
part in ministering to him in his bonds as Philemon would have done.
But he did not desire his services unless Philemon should voluntarily
set him free; for it might be in the providence of God that Onesimus
had left his master for a season in so improper a manner, that, being
converted, he might on his return be forgiven and received with such
affection that he would choose to dwell with him ever after, “not now
as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved.”
The apostle added: “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive
him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that
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on mine account. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will
repay it; albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine
own self besides.”
Paul voluntarily proposes to assume the debt of another; he will
make reparation for a crime committed by another, that the guilty one
may be spared the disgrace of punishment, and may again enjoy the
privileges which he has forfeited. The apostle well knew the severity
which masters exercised towards their slaves, and that Philemon was
much incensed at the conduct of his servant. He therefore approached
him in a manner to arouse his deepest and tenderest feelings as a
Christian. The conversion of Onesimus has made him a brother in the