Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

“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.”

because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

“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.”

I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

“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.”

I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

“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.”

So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

“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 instrumentality.”

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

“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.”

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

“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 liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

“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.”

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

“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.”

no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother.

“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…”

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

“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.”

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

“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.”

In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

“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.”

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

“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.”