spiritual affection, ver. 17. — irpoe'Ka.Bov, receive) A mild word, occurring again in the same verse (17).
13. "Oc, whom) He shows that Onesimus was now worthy to be trusted. — vvsp <rov, for thee) on thy account [in thy stead].
14. 'nr, as it were) A mitigating particle ; for although Philemon had not been compelled, yet his willingness would not have so much appeared [had Paul kept Onesimus without formally asking Philemon's leave]. — avdyxyv, necessity) for Philemon could not have resisted.
15. Ta^/a, perhaps) The apostle speaks thus after the manner of men, as 1 Cor. i. 16. Because the judgments of God are concealed; see Hieron. on this passage. — s^upied^ departed) [was separated]. A mild expression. — aluviov, for ever) in this life, Ex. xxi. 6, and in heaven. A very elegant amphibology, quite true in both cases. The whole time of the absence of Onesimus was but a short hour compared with that lengthened duration. — acrg;^) thou shouldst have him for thyself.
16. Ovx'en ug dovXov, no longer as a servant) He had been a servant. — Imp doDXou, above a servant) This is equivalent to an epithet. But is connected with a brother : above a servant from whom thou art about to derive greater benefit than from a servant. 'Yv'spdouXog is a compound word according to Apol- lonius, 1. 4, de Syntaxi, c, 3 ; but what it means, or whether it has any relation to the matter before us, I do not know. — ddiXcbv, brother) He does not add u$, as [which he had used before servant]. He evidently recommends him for a (true) brother. — a/acr^rov, beloved) Love is borne to a brother and a friend, not to a servant. — //-aX/ora J//,o/) especially to me, before all others, who are however not excluded. — aoi) to thee, even before me : to me and thee are construed with a brother beloved. In the flesh he is vvep &>DXov, above a servant, a freedman (comp. v*sp9 ver. 21) ; in the Lord, a brother.
17. "E%zig) thou hast, without a figure [but Engl. Vers., If thou count] ; for receive comes in after it. — xoivuvfa, a partner) that what is thine may be mine, and mine thine.
18. E/ c>£ rs, but if anything) A gentle expression. Onesimus had confessed to Paul what he had done. — % cxpeiAsi, or owes) A milder synonym is put after the verb wronged. — IXXoys/) Hesychius, IXXoyg/, i.e. xarat.oyr^ai. Consider me the debtor.