Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

“Archippus--a minister of the Colossian Church (Col 4:17). fellow soldier-- (2Ti 2:3). church in thy house--In the absence of a regular church building, the houses of particular saints were used for that purpose. Observe Paul's tact in associating with Phil…”

“Now Colosse, Philemon's place of residence, he had never yet seen. Yet Phm 19 here implies that Philemon was his convert. Philemon, doubtless, was converted at Ephesus, or in some other place where he met Paul. love and faith--The theological order is first…”

“In short, that thy faith may by acts be proved to be "a faith which worketh by love." in Christ Jesus--rather as Greek, "unto Christ Jesus," that is, to the glory of Christ Jesus.”

“For--a reason for the prayer, Phm 4-6. we have--Greek, "we had." joy and consolation--joined in 2Co 7:4. saints are refreshed by thee--His house was open to them. brother--put last, to conciliate his favorable attention to the request which follows.”

“Wherefore--Because of my love to thee, I prefer to "beseech," rather than "enjoin," or authoritatively command. I might . . . enjoin--in virtue of the obligation to obedience which Philemon lay under to Paul, as having been converted through his instrumentalit…”

“I beseech thee--emphatically repeated from Phm 9. In the Greek, the name "Onesimus" is skilfully put last, he puts first a favorable description of him before he mentions the name that had fallen into so bad repute with Philemon.”

“Which . . . was . . . unprofitable--belying his name Onesimus, which means "profitable." Not only was he "unprofitable," but positively injurious, having "wronged" his master.”

“I would have retained--different Greek from the "would," Phm 14, "I could have wished," "I was minded" here; but "I was not willing," Phm 14. in thy stead--that he might supply in your place all the services to me which you, if you were here, would render …”

“So Joseph in Ge 45:5. departed--literally, "was parted from thee"; a softening term for "ran away," to mitigate Philemon's wrath. receive him--Greek, "have him for thyself in full possession" (see on Php 4:18). The same Greek as in Mt 6:2. for ever--in t…”

“No longer as a mere servant or slave (though still he is that), but above a servant, so that thou shalt derive from him not merely the services of a slave, but higher benefits: a servant "in the flesh," he is a brother "in the Lord." beloved, specially to me-…”

“Greek, "But it (thou art not inclined to 'receive him' because) he hath wronged thee"; a milder term than "robbed thee." Onesimus seems to have confessed some such act to Paul. put that on mine account--I am ready to make good the loss to thee if required.”

“For to my instrumentality thou owest thy salvation. So the debt which "he oweth thee" being transferred upon me (I making myself responsible for it) is cancelled.”

“This prospect of Paul's visiting Colosse would tend to secure a kindly reception for Onesimus, as Paul would know in person how he had been treated. your . . . you--referring to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and the Church in Philemon's house. The same expecta…”

“However, he is not mentioned as a prisoner in Col 4:12, so that "fellow prisoner" here may mean merely one who was a faithful companion to Paul in his imprisonment, and by his society put himself in the position of a prisoner.”