Philemon 1:12

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philemon 1:12

have. Omit, sent again = sent back. App-174 . thou therefore receive . The texts omit, and read "sent again to thee", mine own bowels = as mine own self. Figure of speech Synecdoche . App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philemon 1:12

whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:As a runaway slave in Rome, Onesimus was in constant danger of falling into the hands of the slave-catchers; and it would have been dangerous to have sent him alone; therefore Paul utilized the opportunity for having Onesimus, accompanied by Tychicus the bearer of Colossians, in the journey back to Colossae. "Although Tychicus is not mentioned in Philemon, he in the company of Onesimus is bearer of it (Colossians... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philemon 1:12

Philemon 1:12. Mine own bowels:— There are a number of passages in the ancient Greek and Latin writers, where children are called the bowels of their parents. Observe how the apostle rises in his expressions: in Phm 1:10 it was, my son Onesimus: here it is mine own bowels, or "my most dearly and tenderly-beloved son;" and Phm 1:17 it is, myself, or my very self. There is that in Christianity which so far throws down distinctions, as to set all good men upon a level,without destroying in the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:12

mine own bowels — as dear to me as my own heart [Alford]. Compare :-, “as myself.” The object of my most intense affection as that of a parent for a child. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:8-21

III. PLEA FOR ONESIMUS vv. 8-21Paul appealed to Philemon to receive Onesimus back and to forgive him. He did this to enable Onesimus to fulfill his obligations to Philemon and to encourage Philemon to benefit from Onesimus’ conversion rather than to be stumbled by it. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:12-14

Onesimus had so endeared himself to Paul that his departure was an extremely painful prospect for the apostle. Paul could have justified keeping the slave with him, but he judged that Onesimus’ obligation to return to his owner was more important. Furthermore, Paul did not really have authority over the slave; that rested with his master. If Paul had kept Onesimus with him, Philemon would have felt obligated by his regard for Paul to let his slave stay with the apostle. The service Paul... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:12-16

B. Paul’s motives vv. 12-16 read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:8-20

(8-20) Here St. Paul enters on the main subject of his Letter—the recommendation to Philemon of his runaway slave, Onesimus. All thoughtful readers of the Epistle must recognise in this a peculiar courtesy and delicacy of tone, through which an affectionate earnestness shows itself, and an authority all the greater because it is not asserted in command. The substance is equally notable in its bearing on slavery. Onesimus is doubly welcomed into the Christian family. He is St. Paul’s son in the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:12

(12) Thou therefore receive him.—The word “receive” is not in the best MSS. It is supplied here from Philemon 1:17 (apparently rightly in respect of sense) to fill up a broken construction in the original.Mine own bowels—i.e., my own heart, dear to me as my own soul. There is, indeed, an usage of the word which applies it to children as begotten of our own body. But this is hardly St. Paul’s usage (see 2 Corinthians 6:12; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:1; Colossians 3:12; and Philemon 1:7;... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:12-14

Chapter 5 Philemon 1:12-14 (R.V.)The characteristic features of the Epistle are all embodied in these verses. They set forth, in the most striking manner, the relation of Christianity to slavery and to other social evils. They afford an exquisite example of the courteous delicacy and tact of the Apostle’s intervention on behalf of Onesimus; and there shine through them, as through a semi-transparent medium, adumbrations and shimmering hints of the greatest truths of Christianity.I. The first... read more

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