THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO PHILEMON. Introduction. I. Author, PAUL. Testimony conclusive on this point. 1. External (Tertullian, Origen, Eusebius, Jerome, Ignatius); 2. Internal. Characteristic of Paul. No fraudulent intent can be imagined (Alford). II. Time, and—III. Place, ab. A.D. 61 or 62 (Alford), 63 or 64 (Hacket); fr. RoME, same as Eps. to Col. and Eph. Borne by Onesimus (Col. iv. 9), same persons named in salutation. Archippus named in Eps. to Col. and Tit. P. referred to as a prisoner in both (Col. iv. 18; Phil. vv. 1-9). IV. To whom, PHILEMON. Prob. a native of Colossæ, since both Onesimus and Archippus were (Col. iv. 9, 17; cf. Phil. 1, 2). This was the anc. opinion; and trad. (Theodoret) says his house was pointed out there so late as 5th cent. It is also said (Constit. Apost. vii. 46) that he bec. Bp. of Colossæ, and was martyred under Nero. If P. did not visit Col. (Col. ii. 1), it is prob. that Phil. was converted during P.'s long stay at Eph. (Ac. xix. 10). It is evident that he was rich, and liberal (Phil. 9., see Gk.) V. Purpose, "An affectionate desire on the part of the Apos. to restore Onesimus to the confidence and love of his master, and to ensure for him a reception wh. he might justly have been considered wholly to have forfeited " (Ellicott). VI. Style, "The exquisite tact with wh. his fraudulent conduct towards Phil. is alluded to (v. 18),—the absence of everything tending to excuse or palliate the misdeed, yet the use of every expression and sentiment calculated to win the fullest measures of Phil.'s forgiveness, has not failed to call forth the reverential admiration of every expositor, fr. the earliest times down to our own day" (Ellicott). Note on slavery.-In Greece, Homer's time, all prisoners of war were treated as slaves. The Lacedæmonian youth, trained up in the practice of deceiving and butchering slaves, were, fr. time to time, let loose upon them, to show their proficiency in stratagem and massacre; and once, for their amusement only, they murdered, it is said, 3,000 in one night. Alexander, when he razed Thebes, sold the whole people for slaves, 335 B.C. There were 400,000 slaves in Attica, 317 B.C. In Ro., slaves were often chained to the gate of a great man's house, to admit guests invited to a feast. C. Pollio threw such slaves as gave him the slightest offence into his fish-ponds, to fatten his lampreys, 42 B.C. Cæcilius Isidorus left to his heir 4116 slaves, 12 B.C. PHILEMON. 1-3. prisoner, see on Ep. iv. 1; vi. 19, 20; 2 Ti. i. 8. Phi- salutation lemon, see Intro. Timothy, see Intro. to 1 Tim. Apphia, a Col. i. 17. prob. the wife of Phil. Archippusa (leader of horse), perh. their son. fellow-soldier, if "leader of horse" be indicative 61 Pe. v. 5; He. of his employment, this epistle would remind him of another warfare. to.. house, the fam. of Phil., or the believers who met for worship there. grace, etc., see on Ep. i. 2. The letter to Philemon.-I. Who was this Philemon? Probably, a member of the Church in the town Colosse. II. What was the object of the Apostle in writing this letter?-to beg pardon for a converted runaway slave. III. Some of the chief points in the letter: 1. Paul himself described-a prisoner of the Lord; 2. The relation of Philemon to Paul-a fellow-labourer; 3. The prisonhood of Paul coupled with his time of life; 4. The case of Onesimus. IV. The lessons and truths suggested by it: 1. Restitution; 2. Forgiveness; 3. Peace-making; 4. Obedience to our great Master. xiii. 20; 1 Co. xvi. 23; Jo. xiv. 27. "True goodness is like the glowworm in this, that it shines most when no eyes. except those of heaven, are upon it."-Anon. "In nothing do nearly to the men approach so gods, as in giving health to men."Cicero. to the other a sun, and a sunflower also. He attracts and follows."-Richter. On cultivating friendship.-Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love. It is "Every friend is well worth while to learn how to win the heart of man the right way. Force is of no use to make or preserve a friend, who is an animal that is never caught and tamed but by kindness and pleasure. Excite them by your civilities, and show them that you desire nothing more than their satisfaction; oblige with all c Socrates. your soul that friend who has made you a present of his own.c 4-6. I.. prayers, see on Ph. i. 3, 4; and Ro. i. 9. hear- tion of faith ing.. saints, see on Ep. i. 15. that, in order that: ref. to and love purpose of his prayer, v. 4. the.. faith, "participation of thy faith enjoyed by others." effectual, operative. by thing, in the full knowledge of every good thing. which Jesus, through Him, and to His honour. Paul's thanksgivings and prayers for Philemon.-I. The object of Paul's praises and prayers for Philemon-"I thank my God," etc. 1. God is the author of all good; 2. To Him, therefore, is all the praise due; 3. It is the privilege of good men in prayer that they come to God as God; 4. We should, offer prayers, not only for ourselves, but also for others. II. The circumstance"always making mention of thee." III. The matter of: 1. His praises--he praises God because of Philemon's love to, and faith in, Christ, and his love to the saints; 2. His prayers. Connection between love and good works.-Verily good works constitute a refreshing stream in this world, wherever they are found flowing. It is a pity that they are too often like oriental torrents," waters that fail in the time of greatest need. When we meet the stream actually flowing and refreshing the land, we trace it upward in order to discover the fountain whence it springs. Threading our way upward, guided by the river, we have found at length the placid lake from which the river runs. Behind all genuine good works, and above them, love will, sooner or later, certainly be found. It is never good works alone; uniformly, in fact, and necessarily in the nature of things, we find the two commenda a Ga. v. 6. b Ellicott. c Ma. v. 16; 1 Pe. ii. 12; 2 Co. ix. 13. e Dr. Arnot. ground of appeal a 2 Co. x. 1. "Ask the man of constituents existing as a complex whole, "love and good works," the fountain and the flowing stream. 7-9. in.. love, based upon, in consequence of its fruit. bowels, hearts. refreshed, comforted, soothed. enjoin, command, enforce. yeta.. sake, I use friendly influence, as sufficient without Apostolic authority. being.. one, the advice of adversity how an old man will have weight with his friend. as.. aged, if he other men act were only ab. 26 at Stephen's death he would now at ab. 50 be towards him; prematurely old through much travel and care; but prob. he was how he acts to-ab. 68, when he suffered martyrdom shortly after. now.. Christ wards them. Ad- (see on v. 1), another strong persuasion. ask those others versity is the true touchstone of merit in both; happy if it does not produce the dishonesty of meanness in one, and that of insolence and pride in the other." Greville. Benevolence encouraged.-I. The proper office of love. Love should be especially shown to those of the household of faith, because-1. They are dearer to God than others; 2. Christ is more deeply interested in them; 3. They are more nearly related to ourselves; 4. They are themselves of superior worth. II. Its excellence, when so employed. Paul had a high idea of its excellency, because he felt-1. How pre-eminently God was honoured by it; 2. How greatly the Gospel also was recommended and adorned; 3. What extensive benefits accrued to it from the Church; 4. What an evidence it gave of substantial piety in its possessor.-A review of life and a glimpse of glory.—“ Such an "A man that is one as Paul the aged." This language-I. Supposes childhood fit to make a and other scenes of life already past; II. Suggests a review of the friend of, must have conduct to events of individual life; III. Reminds us of the infirmities which manage the en-years witness; IV. Shows Paul to us as an old disciple-not only gagement, and 66 a man, but a "new man," a Iman in Christ;" V. Contains a maintain it. He touching plea; VI. Suggests that the aged Christian has nearly must use free- finished his course.c b C. Simeon, M.A. c J. S. Pearsall. resolution to oblige without covetousness dom without An aged minister.-In a letter, the late Rev. Rowland Hill roughness, and remarks-" Old as I am, I am just returned from a long misdesign. Cowar- sionary ramble; but I feel I am getting old. O that I may work dice will betray well to the last!" In all his journeys, even when he had reached friendship, and a period beyond that usually allotted to man, he was disconcerted will starve it. if he did not find a pulpit ready for him every evening. In one Folly will be of his letters, fixing his days for preaching on his road to some nauseous, pas- place, he says, "Ever since my Master has put me into office, I have ever esteemed it my duty to remember His admonition, As will fly out into ye go, preach.' His general answers to invitations to houses on contumely and his route was, "I shall be happy to come to you, if you can find neglect."--Jeremy me a place to preach in." sion is apt to ruffle, and pride Collier. on behalf of Onesimus a 1 Co. iv. 15. b Col. iv. 9. "It was well for Onesimus that 10-12. for.. son, another ground of tender appeal. Onesimus (useful), the runaway slave of Phil., whom trad. says was aft. Bp. of Berea, and ultimately martyred at Ro. whom. bonds,a O. had fled to Ro., where the Christian in bonds would nat. attract the atten. of the poor fugitive. (Note, Christ, even on the cross, preached to the thief; Paul, in chains, preached to the slave. No circumstances absolve us fr. duty; nor need any despair, both the thief and O. found mercy.) unprofitable, perh. he had robbed his master. but.. thee, in exercising thy charity. and.. me, both in my bonds, and in proving the soundness of his conversion by obediently returning. again, for never dreamed his sake, mine and thine. bowels, heart. O. to be loved, as of."-Gurnall. dwelling in heart of Paul. Paul was sent to gaol; God had an errand for Paul to him as well as to others, which the devil "A friendship Onesimus.-I. None need despair of being saved. II. None can very often the a zealous one." be in circumstances where they may not or cannot be useful. III. that makes the None should be above owning or acknowledging a fellow-Christian. least noise is IV. None should cease to care for young converts.-The conver- most useful; for sion of Onesimus.-We see in this text-I. How compassionate which reason I the Gospel makes a man towards his suffering fellow-men. Notice should prefer a -1. The condescension and love; 2. The prudence and tact of prudent friend to Paul. II. How mysteriously God often works in the conversion Addison. of sinful men. III. That the afflictions of God's servants need c Analyst. be no barrier to their spiritual usefulness—" in my bonds." IV. d Homilist. A faint emblem of the compassion of Christ for human souls." "One should In bonds, yet still preaching.-The Rev. Dr. Malan happened, think that tender at one time, to be in the adjoining territory of Savoy, where friendship might Romish surveillance is perpetually on the alert. He was suspected become more as chargeable with the offence of distributing tracts obnoxious to the Roman Catholics; he was seized, and, under the custody of two gens d'armes, sent to prison. The charge was without evidence or foundation, and he was not detained; but, nothing daunted by his situation, and conceiving the opportunity to be important and favourable, he preached the Gospel to the poor fellows who at tended him in the carriage which conveyed them to the prison; and there is good reason for believing that one of these soldiers, employed to incarcerate the ambassador of Christ, was himself brought to the Saviour, and introduced into the glorious liberty their foliage."— of the sons of God. J. Foster. intimate and entire, the older the parties grew; as two trees plant ed near each other, the higher they grow and the more widely they spread, intermingle more completely their branches "Consult and your 13, 14, whom.. me, had I considered my own comfort only. whom Paul that.. stead, wh. shows how he valued both O. and Phil. in.. would have Gospel, i.e., in the bonds wh. the Gos. brought with it. with- retained out nothing, he would have the full approval of Phil. a 2 Co. ix. 7. necessity, as the reluctant assent to Apostolic authority. willingly, with the cheerful concurrence of friendship. Onesimus ministering unto Paul.-In what was he useful to Paul?-I. He made him happy by his conversion. II. He served him with Christian fidelity in the bonds of the Gospel. III. He could now, by his consolation, quicken and support the Apostle after the example of the Romans." friend on all things, especially on those which respect yourself. His counsel may where your own then be useful, self-love might Christian friendship.-When Christianity came to renew our impair your judg nature, and to restore our laws, and to increase her privileges, ment."-Seneca. and to make her aptness to become religion, then it was declared b Oosterzee. that our friendships were to be universal as our conversation; c Bp. Taylor. that is actual to all with whom we converse, and potentially ex-d Shakspeare. tended unto those with whom we did not. For he who was to treat his enemies with forgiveness and prayers, and love and beneficence, was indeed to have no enemies, and to have all friends.-Friendship.— I count myself in nothing else so happy, 15, 16. perhaps, Providence may overrule your temporary loss of your slave; as Jacob's loss of his son. departed, had he said "run-away," painful recollections or angry feelings might have been excited. that.. ever, here as thy bro. in Christ: hereafter as thy companion in glory. servant, slave. The relation now altered. but.. servant, more, better than s. a.. "Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy, and the dividing of our grief."-Cicero. but sends brother "Whatever dis grace we have merited, it is al man's favour, escape a most always in me, you have not yet known him in that relation. flesh, earthly our power to re- and personal relations. Lord, spiritual and religious relations. establish our reputation." - La Frederick Douglass.-When this eloquent man of colour was Rochefoucauld. lecturing in England some years ago, a minister said to a friend "He will steal whom he casually met, "Are you going to hear Douglass tohimself into a night ?" "Certainly not;" was the reply, "he ought not to be and, for a week, encouraged, but to be sent back to his master as Onesimus was great by Paul; have you never read his Epistle to Philemon?" "Yes," deal of disco- returned the minister, "I have, and had you also carefully read veries; but when it, you would have noticed that Onesimus was sent back to you find him out, Philemon, not as a slave to his master, to be punished for abyou have him ever after." sconding, but as a brother beloved." The pro-slavery friend Shakspeare. vanished.-Religious Liberty.-After the revocation of the famous "Poor is the edict of Nantz, when the Protestants were persecuted in every friendless master part of France, an English ambassador demanded of Louis XIV. the liberty of all those who were sent to the galleys on account of their world in purchase for a friend religion. "And what," answered the royal bigot, "would the is gain."-Young. king of England say, were I to require the release of all his "A faithful friend prisoners in Newgate ?" "Sir," returned the ambassador, "the is a strong de-king my master would immediately comply with your requisition, if your majesty interposed for them, not as malefactors, but as your brethren. of a world: а fence." to be received as himself a 1 Co. iv. 15. "True delicacy, as true gene rosity, is more wounded by an offence from itself, if I may be allowed the expression, than to 17-19. count, consider, reckon. partner, a sharer in his reformation, and in these relations to them. receive.. myself, not as a slave but as a brother beloved. wronged, by any misdeed, injury. or.. ought, of property, or service. put.. account, and cheerfully forgive, as you would me; or look to me to refund your loss. I.. hand, you have my I. O. U. in this matter. albeit,a etc., your indebtedness to me, of wh. I need not remind you, may well balance the account. The sinner's substitute.-I. The generous conduct of the Apostle —he pleads for a slave who had run away from his master. II. itself." Greville. An interesting parallel to this example, our salvation by Christ. "The most deli- III. Practical remarks: 1. How abundant is the comfort against cate, the most sin provided for believers in Christ; 2. How much it concerns every soul to be a partaker of Christ's mercy; 3. How binding is the example of Paul, and the greater example of Christ, upon the Church, to welcome penitents of every class. sensible of all pleasures, consists in promoting the pleasures of others." -La Bruyère. b Anon. The basis of friendship.-True friendship can only be made between true men. Hearts are the soul of honour. There can be no lasting friendship between bad men. Bad men may pretend the to love each other; but their friendship is a rope of sand, which friendless master shall be broken at any convenient season. But if a man have a sincere heart within him, and be true and noble, then we may in purchase for a friend confide in him." "Poor is of a world: a world The devotedness of friendship : Friendship is power and riches all to me; 20-22. let.. Lord, and I shall, when I hear of the fruit of your faith in your Christian treatment of O. obedience, to my wish respecting O. knowing.. say, true love will ever exceed |
