in spiritual things, ver. 4, etc., HE BEGS him to re ceive Onesimus, a runaway slave, 12—17. And desires him to provide a lodging for himself, 22.
m. CONCLUSION, 23-25.
-rotoijrog, such) He lays down three arguments why he would rather affectionately exhort and ask him, than issue a command : his own (Paul's) natural disposition, long ago well known to Philemon, his old age, and his imprisonment. Old age renders men mild : comp. Luke v. 39 : but even before old age, Paul was still Paul ; he formerly depended on the kindness of others, and now, in no respect happier abroad, he still depends upon it. The graceful courtesy in this epistle is mixed with gravity.
10. napaxaXw, / beseech) This word is repeated with great force, as if after a parenthesis. — <rept roD J/AOU T&KVOV, concerning my son) Besides other things, he puts first a favourable descrip tion of the person, having suspended the sense till he mentions the hated (offensive) name of Onesimus. And the whole epistle savours of the recent joy for Onesimus, who had been gained as a convert, and from whom it seems he concealed the circum stance that he was writing so kindly about him.
have begotten) He was the son of Paul's old age. — ' Onesimus) He alludes pleasantly to this name in the following verse.
11. "A^pjjc-rov, unprofitable) A Litotes [see Append.] for he was guilty of injury. In like manner there is a mild expression in the use of the word, was separated [departed], ver. 15 ; like wise ver. 18, but if — he oweth. — coi xat epos, to thee and me) He courteously puts Philemon before himself. He treats of himself, ver. 13, 14; of him, ver. 15, 16. Chiasmus [see Append.] — ev%priffrov, truly profitable) The allusion is to the name of Onesimus ; so ova//^, ver. 20. Not even does a servant do his duty without godliness. With godliness any man is profitable. — avi-rg/^a, I have sent back) Onesimus even be fore he had attained true profitableness, had however thought well of Paul, and fled to him on the occasion of his own crime.
12. Ta spa trcrXcey^a, my bowels) An example <rropy»js, of