Philemon 1:23-25

Salutations and prayer.

I. SALUTATIONS . These are the expressions of Christian sympathy and kindness.

1. They are the salutations of the apostle ' s fellow-prisoner . "There salute thee Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus."

(a) This was an alleviation to both prisoners, on account of their common faith, their common hopes, and their common interests. Epaphras, as probably the younger man, would be very helpful to the apostle.

(b) The cause of the imprisonment in both cases was "in Christ Jesus." They suffered for the preaching of his gospel.

2. They are the salutations of the apostle ' s fellow-laborers . "Marcus" ( Acts 12:12 ), once temporarily estranged from the apostle, but now at his side; "Aristarchus" ( Acts 19:29 , Acts 19:30 ; Colossians 4:10 ); "Demas," whose apostasy was yet future ( 2 Timothy 4:10 ); "Luke," the beloved physician and evangelist ( Colossians 4:14 ). The apostle was happily circumstanced, even as a prisoner, through the constant or occasional society of these men.

II. PRAYER . "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." It is curious to find no allusion to God the Father in this prayer. If Christ is not God, how can we account for such a prayer? It is a simple but beautiful prayer addressed to the whole Philemon household.—T.C.