perhaps. Greek. tacha . Only here and Romans 5:7 . therefore = because of ( App-104 .Philemon 1:2; Philemon 1:2 ) this. departed = was separated. Greek. chorizo . First occurance: Matthew 19:6 . for , App-104 . season . Literally hour. Greek. hora , receive. Greek. apecho . See Matthew 6:2 . for ever. App-181 . read more
For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;By this Paul affirms that perhaps the whole unfortunate event of the flight of the slave was providential, after all. Did not Joseph say to his brothers in Egypt, "God did send me before you to preserve life" (Genesis 45:5)?That thou shouldest have him forever ... means simply that Philemon would now have his slave permanently, but there may also be included the thought of all the redeemed having... read more
Philemon 1:15. For perhaps he therefore departed— As Phm 1:13-14 were thrown in by way of parenthesis, this 15th verse must be considered as connected in sense with Philemon 1:12. As the event had been so happy, St. Paul ascribes it to God: Onesimus designed no such thing by his flight; Philemon did not send him to Rome for that purpose, and St. Paul had not sent to Colosse for him: there was no human contrivance to accomplish so great and good an event; but God, in the course of his wise... read more
perhaps — speaking in human fashion, yet as one believing that God’s Providence probably (for we cannot dogmatically define the hidden purposes of God in providence) overruled the past evil to ultimately greater good to him. This thought would soften Philemon’s indignation at Onesimus’ past offense. So Joseph in :-.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 ... read more
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
B. Paul’s motives vv. 12-16 read more
Paul suggested that God may have permitted the events that had taken place to result in greater good (Romans 8:28), and he urged Philemon to view them in that light. The master should now regard his slave not as a slave but as a brother in Christ, which he was. [Note: Cf. Lightfoot, p. 341.] This does not mean that he would necessarily give Onesimus his freedom, though he might, but that he would treat him lovingly at least. There is evidence that long before Christianity a slave who became an... read more
(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
(15) For perhaps he therefore departed (or, was parted).—This is a further reason for sending Onesimus back. St. Paul now touches on Onesimus’ “being parted” from Philemon, using a phrase not only (as has been noted) euphemistic, but also one which suggested that his running away was, however unconsciously, overruled by a higher hand. God, in His wisdom, “parted” him from Philemon “for a season, that he might receive him for ever.” The phrase “for ever” is the word always used for “eternal.”... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:1-21
CONTENTS OF THE LETTERPaul greets Philemon, his wife Apphia, and the other believers who meet in their home. He also greets Archippus, who was possibly their son and who was serving God in that region (1-3; cf. Colossians 4:17). Paul rejoices because of what he has heard (probably from Epaphras and Onesimus; cf. Colossians 1:7-8; Colossians 4:9,Colossians 4:12) of Philemon’s strong faith in God and sincere love for God’s people. This faith and love have been a source of strength and... read more