I AM SENDING HIM BACK TO YOU
Key verse: 15,16
NIV
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains(A) for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced(B) but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave,(C) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(D) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner,(E) welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.(F) 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.(G) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh(H) my heart in Christ. 21 Confident(I) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be(J) restored to you in answer to your prayers.(K)
23 Epaphras,(L) my fellow prisoner(M) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark,(N) Aristarchus,(O) Demas(P) and Luke, my fellow workers.(Q)
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(R)
Cross references
- Philemon 1:13 : ver 10; S Ac 21:33
- Philemon 1:14 : 2Co 9:7; 1Pe 5:2
- Philemon 1:16 : 1Co 7:22
- Philemon 1:16 : Mt 23:8; S Ac 1:16; 1Ti 6:2
- Philemon 1:17 : 2Co 8:23
- Philemon 1:18 : Ge 43:9
- Philemon 1:19 : S 1Co 16:21
- Philemon 1:20 : ver 7; 1Co 16:18
- Philemon 1:21 : S 2Co 2:3
- Philemon 1:22 : Php 1:25; 2:24; Heb 13:19
- Philemon 1:22 : 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19
- Philemon 1:23 : Col 1:7
- Philemon 1:23 : ver 1; Ro 16:7; Col 4:10
- Philemon 1:24 : S Ac 12:12
- Philemon 1:24 : S Ac 19:29
- Philemon 1:24 : Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:10
- Philemon 1:24 : ver 1
- Philemon 1:25 : S Gal 6:18
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me (A)on your behalf (B)during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be (C)by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why (D)he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 (E)no longer as a bondservant[a] but more than a bondservant, as (F)a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, (G)both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me (H)your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 (I)I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. (J)Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 (K)Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for (L)I am hoping that (M)through your prayers (N)I will be graciously given to you.
Final Greetings
23 (O)Epaphras, my (P)fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do (Q)Mark, (R)Aristarchus, (S)Demas, and (T)Luke, my fellow workers.
25 (U)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Philemon 1:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse
Cross references
- Philemon 1:13 : See 1 Cor. 16:17
- Philemon 1:13 : ver. 10; See Phil. 1:7
- Philemon 1:14 : [2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2]
- Philemon 1:15 : [Gen. 45:5, 8]
- Philemon 1:16 : See 1 Cor. 7:22
- Philemon 1:16 : Matt. 23:8; Col. 4:9; 1 Tim. 6:2
- Philemon 1:16 : Col. 3:22, 23; [Eph. 6:5]
- Philemon 1:17 : 2 Cor. 8:23
- Philemon 1:19 : See 1 Cor. 16:21
- Philemon 1:20 : See ver. 7
- Philemon 1:21 : See 2 Cor. 2:3
- Philemon 1:22 : Phil. 1:25; 2:24
- Philemon 1:22 : See 2 Cor. 1:11
- Philemon 1:22 : [Heb. 13:19]
- Philemon 1:23 : See Col. 1:7
- Philemon 1:23 : Rom. 16:7
- Philemon 1:24 : See Col. 4:10
- Philemon 1:24 : See Col. 4:10
- Philemon 1:24 : See Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10, 11
- Philemon 1:24 : See Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10, 11
- Philemon 1:25 : See Gal. 6:18
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. As a dear brother
Paul was sending the runaway slave Onesimus back to his master Philemon. It was hard for him to do this, because he had come to love Onesimus like a son. But before Onesimus could serve Jesus freely, and serve Paul, he had to go back and settle accounts with his master. When a man meets Jesus, he gets the courage to face old problems and solve them.
2. Refresh my heart in Christ
Paul did not directly command Philemon to set Onesimus free. He appealed to him as a partner in the gospel, a co-worker. He asked him to welcome this slave, not as a slave, but as a man and brother in the Lord. Paul regards Philemon as a partner in the gospel. He asks him to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul himself. He offered to pay his debts. Paul also hints that he is coming for a visit soon.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for real freedom in Jesus. Help me to solve old problems through faith in him.
One Word: Not a slave but a brother
