Oecumenius

In his own words on Philemon

• Philemon 1:1

  "Paul, a prisoner". Immediately from the opening words he instructs the master not to shame the servant. For all things, even chains, are good for Christ. And that it is right for grace to be given to the prisoner for Christ. "and Timothy our brother". He includes Timothy as a partner in the supplication. "to Philemon our beloved". If beloved, he will grant favor; if a coworker, he will not put the servant to shame in the service of the preaching. Onesimus, having been given, will also fulfill the work of the master Philemon.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:2

  "and to Apphia our beloved, and Archippus". Perhaps Apphia was the wife of Philemon, and Archippus. But see the humility, for it also urges these to join in the supplication. "our fellow soldier". If a fellow soldier, he also struggles in this. This is the one about whom he writes to the Colossians: Tell Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received." (Co. 4:17) "and to the church in your house". He invites the whole household, and slaves.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:3

  "Grace to you". How then will the grace of God be with you? If you also forgive those who owe you. How then is peace? If you are reconciled to the servant.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:4-5

  If ever "I" make "mention of you", I always do, "I give thanks to God" for you. Why? "Hearing of your love and faith", he says. Do you see that he does not immediately seek favor from the beginning? "hearing of your love". which, if it were not great, would by no means be heard from Phrygia all the way to Rome.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:6

  "that the fellowship of your faith". It unites him to himself, just as if he said: Fellowship of faith is that which makes one and common. But why do you give thanks to God? So "that the" "fellowship of your faith", he says, "may become effective". But how will it be effective? If it proceeds to every work of virtue. Blessed Paul interprets himself. But how will it be "effective"? By this, that you have "the knowledge" and accomplish "every good thing". "that is in us". He says that which is now also in us. (Matt. 25:40) "for Christ Jesus". For whoever does good to someone, does it to Christ, especially to the saints.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:7

  "we have great joy". Not only, Paul says, did we rejoice, but such was the pleasure that it even brought us comfort while in bonds. "because the hearts of the saints". See! He wishes to say: If you grant favors to others, much more grant them to me; thus he does not say; but otherwise more skillfully. For he knows the memory of benefits done to others makes those who are urged more obedient. "have been refreshed through you". For, Paul says, they find rest in your love. They rest because of you. Since you are such a one toward the saints as to also give them rest, I have the boldness to command you. Having boldness because of Christ; to command you a fitting thing; for this is what is proper. But I said to command, not because I rule over you, but because of the love which I love you and am loved by you, I seem to command, but I do not command. For even if I appear to command you, it is out of love that I do not command but rather encourage. Thus, I do the matter with great regard. Being such a one, as Paul an elder. And I exhort, being such a one as one ought to be, he says, to persuade.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:8-9

  "Paul". And this alone is sufficient to persuade, "the aged, but now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ". Do you see the motives for persuading?

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:10

  Paul mentions Philemon first, praising the servant as a beloved child, because he says he also baptized him. For this is the one, "I have begotten while in my chains." Therefore, having calmed his anger through these things, he thus gives the name "Onesimus", he says.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:11

  "formerly useless to you". For he knows that the acknowledged sin is to extinguish the master's anger. "but now indeed useful both to you and to me". If such faithfulness is useful to Paul, who demands so much, it is clearly also useful to Philemon.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:12

  "whom I have sent back". To hand Onesimus over to the master, rather extinguished his anger. "to receive him as my very heart". What do I mean by "receive him"? Receiving this one, you will receive my own very "heart". Thus he says, I love him as one calls him his own "heart". And "receive" means to accept with love.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:13

  "so that he might serve me in the chains of the gospel on your behalf". Do you see that Paul has brought the master to the very place, little by little? For he says that "he serves me on your behalf". Here he shows that he wishes what is more advantageous for the master. For if you say that you ought to serve, and he does this instead of you, the benefit is yours. "in the chains of the gospel". In chains for the sake of the Gospel.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:14

  "without your consent". This was especially humiliating for him, that he did not do something so necessary for him without your consent. "so that your good deed would not be forced but voluntary". Paul did not say, "By force," but, "would not be forced;" as if he had said, "I knew that even against your will, forcing Onesimus on you, I would not cause you pain. But so that it may not seem to be done by force, I was not willing," he says.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:15-16

  Since Onesimus has changed his mind from being a wicked one, he himself turns it to the doubtful, as if he said: For perhaps he fled for reasons of caution. "for this reason he was separated". With a euphemistic name, Paul called it separation, so that the memory of the separation would not provoke the master. Then he also limits the time, calming the anger, or he speaks in terms of a season of the year. "so that you might have him back forever", you have, that is, you receive. "But more than a slave". Do you see that escaping brought many benefits? For instead of an hour of escape, you have an eternal one. (For the escape is but one hour compared to eternity.) And instead of a worthless slave, you have received "a beloved brother". "how much more to you". If to me, much more to you, even in worldly services. For this is "in the flesh." And in spiritual matters. For this is "in the Lord."

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:17

  "So if you consider me a partner". That is, if you think and wish the same things as I do. "welcome him as you would me". Wow, how great is the magnitude of those words!

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:18-19

  "And if he has wronged you". Paul did not say, "He stole," but the verb is cut short. He says he "wronged" "or owes". "charge that to me". For it was likely that they themselves had consumed together the things that had been stolen, and Paul says, "charge this to me," that is, charge these things as a debt to me, let the obligation be held against me. "I, Paul, write". He wrote with spiritual grace, as if he said, But for safe keeping, that I will repay the debt, I have made the letters with my own hand. "to avoid saying to you that you owe me your own self as well". So that Paul may not seem to insult him by not daring to appeal to him openly on behalf of the runaway slave (for this would show Philemon to be somewhat harsh), it shows that Paul is also very confident in Philemon. For he says not only your own things, but also yourself you owe to me.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:20

  "Yes, brother". Again, from what is pleasing it advances to what is serious. "Yes," he said, "brother." What? Accept it yourself. I will take advantage from you in things that are according to Christ. "May I enjoy". That is, I delight in your excellent works in the Lord. May I see you growing rich in all spiritual blessings. "refresh my heart". Paul says, Refresh my love for you for the sake of Christ.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:21

  "confident". Paul said, "You do this not for me, but for Christ." "confident in your obedience". I did not write to you as one commanding or stubbornly dealing with you, but having confidence "in your obedience". Whom would these things not soften, even if he were made of iron? "knowing that you will also do more than I say". Paul said this, persuading Philemon in every way to accept Onesimus, if not for any other reason, then at least so as not to destroy his own reputation if he had any with the Apostle.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:22

  "prepare a lodging for me". Paul says that he did not write only because of Onesimus (for Philemon would have said, if not for himself, that I was not worthy of even a word), but also for this reason, he says, that you might "prepare a lodging for me". And Philemon was even afraid that if he did not receive Onesimus, the Apostle would come and it would be known that he had been disobedient. "for I hope that through your prayers". Great indeed is the power of prayers, and great also is the humility of Paul, because he was in need of those prayers.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:23

  "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner". This man was sent from the Colossians to Paul, as it is clear that Philemon was from Colossae. He is called a fellow prisoner, indicating that he too was in great distress. Moreover, this also honors him; for Epaphras was indeed a fellow prisoner, whereas this one did not even show kindness to Onesimus, who was a prisoner for the Lord.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON

• Philemon 1:24

  "Aristarchus, Demas". About this, Paul wrote to Timothy, "Demas abandoned me." (2 Tim. 4:10) [PHOTIUS] They say that this Demas again turned away to Hellenism and became a priest of idols. [end of the Photius excerpt] [OECUMENIUS] And if that was at first, now he has repented. But if later, after these things he became negligent. [end of the excerpt by Oecumenius] "Luke". The last became first. For if in the second letter to Timothy he says, Luke is the only one with me. (2 Tim. 4:11) And he calls them "co-workers", showing that these also, he says, are encouraging you with me.

  COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON