The Pulpit Commentary — Philemon — Section 7

Chllrllh In thy hon11e. Mede (eo Ohryeoetom (i.e. upnn) -rob• &')'lout; perhe.pe hecauee e.nd Theodoret e.lso) understands this as Christ cannot now be reached by bodily mee.ning " e.nd to the whole of thy fe.mily" efforts, but only (J8ptr-ed tmoards by the soul; (which is e. Christie.n one)-a suggestion while the poor o, n actually be reached and quite worth oonsiderin~. For e. sepe.re.te ministered unto. " Ye have the poor al- letter "to the Mints e.nd faithful brethren ways with you, but me ye have not e.lwnys" in Christ which an, e.t Colossm" (Col. i. 2) (Matt. xxvi. 11). All ChrietiMs &re oalled W1ll! brought by the same messengere, and "saints" in the Scriptures, as Eph. i. I, and it woula seem natnmJ. the.t. in a matter so invariably. What a reminder to them of per.one.I to Philemon, salutations should be their "holy calling" (2 Tim. i. 9) I Meyer oonfined to hill own family. The phrase ia notes, however, that it is not uncom,11011 need more than once (eee Rom. xvi. 5; l with St. Paul to vary the preposition (Rom. Cor. xvi. 19, which seems l'l\ther to point iii. 20 ; Gal. ii. l 6). the other way; but especially Col. iv. 15, Ver. 6.-Render thus: Bo the.t the oom- "NymphM and the Church which is in his munity of thy faith [with other Christians, house," which, since it was in Colossie itself. whom you may be able to serve] ma.y show Mems almost conclusive for that meaning). itself in e.ot, oe.uaing fnll e.oknowledgment The Ecd,esia d,omestiea was very familiar in [from the world without] of every good the apostolic times. Theodoret states that work for leans Christ that ia in you (Re- the holll!e of Philemon we.s still pointed out vised Version is not clear here); literally, 1\1! late a.s the fifth oentury. may become vmking. Not a theoretical or Ver. S.-0:raoe to yon, Blld peaoe. The merely quiescent faith. He was to C()nfess eecular formula of salutation was xaip,w Christ before men ( and see J as. ii. 22). "'.For (Acts :i.:riii. 26); in Latin, multam or pluri- whatever good thing is in us makes me.nifest mam ,alut,em aut plenissimam. St. Paul's our faith" (Calvin). In you. Bishop Words-. formula we.s almost invariably as above, worth reads iJµ,,,, " us " - the body of " G:race to yon, and peaoe " (Rom. i. 7 ; l Christians, following A, C, D, E, K, L, with Cor. i. 3; Gal. i S; end others). To Timothy many Fathers and versions. (1 Tim. i 2; 2 Tim. i 2) and Titus (i 4), Ver. 7.-We he.ve gree.t joy and oonaola- "G:race, mercy, and peace." tion. The preferable reading is, 88 in A, Ver. 4.-I thank my God always. We C, F, G, t(, and Revised Version, I had onght, therefore, to thank God, not only for much joy and comfort (see ver. 5). "Plenius ltifts bestowed upon ourselves, but also for iuculce.t et edocet, q uare dixerit, grati88 th08El bestowed upon others. This is en ago," eto. (Jerome). The bowels of the habitual phrase of St. Paul (oomp. Rom. saints; hearta (Revised Version). Either i 8; l Cor. i. 4; Epb. i 16; Phil. i 3; (I) their bodily wa.nts, the oravings of their 1 Thess. i 2; 2 Thess. i 3 ; 2 Tim. i 3). hunger; or (2) their hearts and affections, " It is to be noted that for the thing on supplied and satisfied by the good deeds of e.ooonnt of which he gives thanks, he at Philemon. This is another peculiarly Pau- the l!ILme time prays" (Calvin). For no line expression (see 2 Cor. vi. 12; vii. 15- good work is ever eo oomplete in_ us that theee two are very similarly used in vers. it does not need to be "continued and 7, 12, 20-end three other places). " To ended " in us by God. Ka.king mention of refruh tM bo,oels is (in Paul) to be taken thee in my pre.yeni. The foregoing remark e.s meaning a lightening of troublea, eo that again appli.,s. Grotins observes that "we they may rest with minds free from all sor- learn from this that all addresses to God row and annoyance" (Calvin). Brother. :m&y be called prayen ( rpo,r•vxJu ), even those How persuasively the sentence is turned! in which nothing is a.sked but thanks are An old commentator remarks, " Paul does given." But this is apparently not such a not yet come to his request, but prepares case; the petition which St. Paul offered and softens beforehand the mind of Pbile- for Philemon being stated in ver. 6. And mon" (Scipio Gentilis). This course of thus Chrysostom explains the passage. proceeding is exactly what Quintilian pre- u Always" may be oonnected with" I thank," soribee to an advooate, "His velut fomentis, or with " making mention," preferably the si quid erit asperum, pr111molliemus, quo former (Chrysoetom, Theophylaot, Calvin, faciliue aures judicum a.dmittant" (' De Lightfoot). Institut. Orat.,' iv. 3). . Ver. 5.-Heari.ng of thy love, and of the Ver. 8.-Render: .Although I have abun- faith . . . saints. He would hear of these dant freedom (boldness, or even licence] in iDBtances of Philemon's faith and love na- Christ to en,jom upon thee that whioh is turally thronp;h Epaphraa (see on ver. 2). fitting. It was only in Christ, and by hie Refer "faith" to "the Lord Jeaue" and authority 88 an apostle, that he eould olaim " love" to "all the ea.intB" (a ehiasmu.,, or to oome between a slave and bis master. cr"s.-rc-f1<rence). Note that the phrase is Secular warre.n t for doing so be bad none. ..-pos (u. ayu, towarJd) .,.1,,, K6pwv, but ••s ~uch authority and licence, however, he  1-26.) THE EPISTLE 'fO PBILEMON. I