not unnaturally, therefore, been supposed by commentators (Chry86Btom, Soipio Gentili&, Grotius, Conybeare and Howson, 'Life and Epistles of St. Paul') that Onesimue had robbed hie master; and the inference would seem to be well founded. St. Paul speaks as one in possession of the whole of the oircum11tances, in his two phrases " wronged " and " owes," and dis- tingniehee accurately, no doubt, between various offences against his mMter which the repentant Onesimus may have confided to him. As a slave, he could not, indeed, in strict law, <YUJe anything to his master, as the master could not owe anything (even the peculium) to hi11 slave (' Gains,' i .. ii., iv.). But he might, of course, steal from him, and then would be liable for the theft. In some way, St. Paul does not mention how, he and Onesimus met in Rome, and the latter yielded to the truths of the gospel. He was, perhaps, attracted by the winning earnestness of the great preacher's manner and conversation, and entered into personal and confidential relations with him. Very soon the apostle knew all the events of the young man's brief history, and had counselled him to make snob amends for hls wrong-doing as might be possible. Onesimus seems to have put himself entirely into the hands of St. Paul, who, on his part, must have felt all the responsibility of his decision. It was evident that Onesimus had ability which might be of great service to the Church and to St. Paul himself. A strong attachment had sprung up between the aged man and the youth, and St. Paul c,i.lls him by the unusual appellation, betokening very strong feeling (but it was St. Paul's custom to use strong and vivid expressions), of" my bowels," i.e. "my son " (Revised Version, "my very heart"). Yet, before all things, UJhat, was right must be done. The law, 88 it stood, gave certain rights to Philemon, and St. Paul would have been the last man to wish to violat.e the law. Oneeimus, therefore, must return to hie master; and his consent to do so is no small proof of the respect and affection which St. Paul had inspired in him. The resentment of a master towards a runaway slave would be hard to endure. St. Paul had no intention of exposing his penit.ent to this considerable danger without taking every means in hie power to ensure to.him a full and ready forgiveness. The sum of which, possibly, Onesimus had defrauded his master, the apostle gave his personal undertaking to repay. An opportunity was found, or made, for hie return, in the approaching visit to the neighbourhood of the Ephesian Tychicus, who was a well-known and trusted brother, and had several times (Col. iv. 7, 8; Eph. vi. 21, 22; Titus iii. 12; 2 Tim. iv. 12; Acts xx. 4, 17) been the messenger of St. Paul. The "letter of introduction" which was put into his hands ie that which later ages have known as the Epistle to Philemon.
§ s. Co:NTENTS. To analyze minutely so brief and private a letter may ·-vell seem su~ ftuoue. It falls, however, naturally into five divi11iona. INTRODUCTION TO
I. VerR. 1-4: The superscription, comprising salutations to Philemon himself, to Apphia (probably his wife), to Archippus, and either to the wh0le family, or to a small a~sembly which met in the house of Philemon. 2. Ven,. 5-7: The apostle thanks God for the good report of Philemon which he has heard, concerning his faith towards God, and kindness towards all hii, fellow-Christians. After this exordium, he introduces the specific occasion ot his letter, viz. 3. , ers. 8-21 : His intercession on behalf of Onesimus, which (vers. 8, 9) he has a right to make with much authority, because of his reverend age, and his i,;u fferings for Jesus Christ; but (ver. 9) he does not command, be entreats as a favour, the granting of his request. Ver. 10 explains what it is, viz. a kind and forgiving reception of Onesimns, whom (vers. ll----'14) be would have wished to retain with him~elf, but would not do this without the leave of Philemon. Vers. 15-17 : The hopes there were of the young man's reformation and future usefulness. Vers. 18, 19: The apostle's pro- mise that he will make good, if desired, whatever sum of money Onesimus may have wronged his master of. Vers. 20, 21: He expresses a friendly confidence in Philemon's ready compliance with his request, and that he would even go beyond it. 4. Ver. 22: He states his intention (which, however, it would seem was never fulfilled) of paying a visit to Colossoo, and asks, with the frankness of one who knows that his presence will be esteemed an honour and a pleasure, that a lodging (sc. in Philemon's own house) may be prepared for him. 5. Vers. 23-25 : The whole of the rest, of the staff engaged in the mission at Rome appears to have joined in the concluding salutations,; Paul and Timothy at the beginning; Epaphras, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lncas, at the close; and thus at.sociated themselves with the apoistle's request. Ver. 25: It closes with the apostolic benediction.
§ 4:. THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE EPISTLE, AND ITS SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS. That this brief Epistle was written by the Apostle Paul seems the clearer the longer it is studied. Meyer does not at all exaggerate when he declares that it bears "directly and vividly the stamp of genuineness." And it is so brief that it enters not at all upon debatable ground. It ha.a no directions for Church organization, such as are found in the Epistles to Timothy; nor warnings against Gnosticism, which are objected to as anachro- nisms belonging to a later age. Slavery belongs to all ages of the ancient world, and it is an incident in the life of a Phrygian slave that occasioned the writing of this Epistle. Nor does it travel scarcely, if at all, out of the sphere of the hou~ehold, and of the simpler moral principles and human emotion& It moves in the plane of practical life; the doctrinal or devo- tional it barely enter1>. It follows that the Epistle presents the least 1,ossible surface for attack, and even that it partially disarms the habitual objector. So persistent a eritic even u Baur (' Pa.ulu,' in we.) acknowledges, with a touoh of unusual THE EPISTLE TO PIIILEMON.