Philemon 1:1-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:16

Not now as a servant ,.... That is, not only as a servant, for a servant he was, and was to be received as such; his call by grace had not dissolved the civil relation that was between him and his master, though it had added to it something that was above it, and greater than it: but above a servant ; in a higher condition, as the Arabic version renders it, than a servant; not barely considered in that relation, but as being in one much preferable to it: a brother beloved, specially... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:17

If thou count me therefore a partner ,.... A companion and friend, who reckon each other's affairs and interest their own: the word answers to חבר , a word often used in Talmudic writings, for an associate of the doctors or wise men: here it may mean also a partner both in grace, and in the ministry; one that shared in the same gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, and one that was to be a partaker of the inheritance with the saints in light: now if Philemon reckoned the apostle such an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:18

If he hath wronged thee ,.... By squandering away his time, spoiling his work, or corrupting his fellow servants: or oweth thee ought ; by embezzling his master's goods, robbing him of his money, and running away from his service: put that on mine account ; Signifying that he would be answerable for all, and make good all debts and damages. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:19

I Paul have written it, with mine own hand ,.... Meaning either this epistle, which being short, he used no amanuensis, but wrote it all himself, and which might be taken as an engagement to do what he promised; or else a bill, a promissory note, written with his own hand, which he sent along with Onesimus, by which he laid himself under obligation to give Philemon full satisfaction in every thing, in which he had been injured by his servant; adding, I will repay it : this was not an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:20

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord ,.... Through the apostle was his spiritual father, having been the instrument of his conversion, yet he calls him his brother, as being a partaker of the same grace, and a minister of the same Gospel; and intimates to him, that should he grant his request, and receive his servant again, it would give him great joy and pleasure, and that not of a carnal, but of a spiritual kind, even joy in the Lord; he should rejoice in the presence of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:21

Having confidence in thy obedience ,.... In his obedience of faith to Christ, and his Gospel; he having been made willing in the day of his power to serve him, as well as to be saved by him; and being constrained by his love, and the Spirit of Christ having wrought in him both to will and to do of his good pleasure: l wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say ; the knowledge the apostle had of Philemon's cheerful obedience to Christ in all the parts of duty,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:22

But withal prepare me also a lodging ,.... Not that the apostle expected or desired any grand apartment to be fitted up for him; a room with such furniture as the Shunamite provided for the man of God was sufficient for him, and what he would have been entirely contented with; but his view in this was, to let Philemon know that he hoped to be released from his bonds, and that he might expect to see him; and this he hinted to him, in order to stir him up to receive his servant sooner, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:23

There salute thee Epaphras ,.... Who was a Colossian, and minister of the church at Colosse, and so might be well known to Philemon, who seems to have been of the same place and church; see Colossians 1:7 his name is omitted in the Ethiopic version: my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus ; this good man, and minister of Christ, might have been sent by the Colossians, as Epaphroditus was by the Philippians, to the apostle at Rome, to pay him a visit, and comfort and assist him under his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:24

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas ,.... Marcus was Barnabas's sister's son, the son of that Mary, in whose house the church met, and prayed for Peter when in prison; whose name was John Mark, whom Saul and Barnabas took along with them to Antioch, and from thence, in their travels, to other parts; but he leaving them at Pamphylia, was the occasion of a contention between Saul and Barnabas afterwards, when returned to Antioch; the latter insisting on his going with them again, and the former... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:25

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Not with his spirit only, but with the spirit of Apphia and Archippus, to whom also the epistle was sent; and therefore the word is in the plural number; and the Syriac version adds pertinently enough, "my brethren": the salutation is the same as in all the epistles; the form of it agrees with Galatians 6:18 the subscription of the epistle is, written from Rome, to Philemon, by Onesimus, a servant ; that is, it was written... read more

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