With me (zpos euavrov). The preposition expresses more than near or beside. It implies intercourse. See on with God, John i. 1.
In thy stead (i7ép ood). Rev., correctly, in thy behalf. A beautiful specimen of christian courtesy and tact; assuming that Philemon would have desired to render these services in person.
In the bonds of the Gospel. Connect with me. Bonds with which he is bound for the sake of the Gospel: with which Christ has invested him. <A delicate hint at his sufferings is blended with an intimation of the authority which attaches to his appeal as a prisoner of Christ. This language of Paul is imitated by Ignatius. “My bonds exhort you” (Tralles, xii.). “He (Jesus Christ) is my witness, in whom I am bound” (Philadelphia, vii.). ‘In whom I bear about my bonds as spiritual pearls” (Ephesians, xi.). “In the bonds which I bear about, I sing the praises of the churches” (Magnesiang, i.).
14. | would (79éAnoa). Compare J would, ver. 13. Here the aorist tense and the verb meaning ¢o will denote a single, decisive resolution.
As it were of necessity (as cata dvdyxnv). ‘Qs as it were, Rey., as, marks the appearance of necessity. Philemon’s kindly reception of Onesimus must not even seem to be constrained.
15. For perhaps. I sent him back, for, if I had kept him, I might have defeated the purpose for which he was allowed to be separated from you fora time. ‘We are not to be too sure of what God means by such and such a thing, as some of us are wont to be, as if we had been sworn of God’s privy- council . . . A humble ‘perhaps’ often grows into a ‘verily, verily’—and a hasty, over-confident ‘verily, verily’ often dwindles to a hesitating ‘perhaps.’ Let us not be in too great a hurry to make sure that we have the key of the cabinet where God keeps his purposes, but content ourselves with ‘ perhaps’ when we are interpreting the often questionable ways of His providence, each of which has many meanings and many ends” (Maclaren).