Philemon 1:9

Being such a one as Paul the aged ; a veteran . Theodoret comments thus: " For he who hears Paul, hears the preacher of the whole world, the traverser of land and sea, the chosen vessel, and other things besides he is …. He adds also 'the aged,' showing the gray hairs which have grown during his labors." " Non aetatem, sed offieium" (Calvin). Presbutēs may mean "an ambassador"—"the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and now also his prisoner," as in Ephesians 6:20 (and see Ephesians 3:1 and Ephesians 4:1 of the same Epistle. A prisoner of Jesus Christ ; i.e. for his cause. The apostle was in custody at Rome, owing to a long suspension of his trial, for causes not known to us. "Have regard for Paul; have regard for my bonds, which I wear as a preacher of the truth" (Theodoret). "Great reverence is due to these who endure sufferings for the most honorable causes" (Grotius).