“Dost thou see after how much previous preparation, he has at length brought him honorably before his master, and observe with how much wisdom he has done this. See for how much he makes him answerable, and how much he honors the other. Thou hast found, he says, a way by which thou mayest through him repay thy service…”
John Chrysostom, 5th c. — Homily on Philemon 2
Original
13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
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In context
11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
— Philemon 1:13 —
14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;