Philem. 1:17. So if you have fellowship with me, receive him as you would me.
That is, if you acknowledge that you are of one mind with me, then receive him as you would me. Who would not be put to shame by the apostle? Who would not desire to receive Paul?
Philem. 1:18. If he has wronged you in anything, or owes you, charge that to my account.
He did not say: stole, but more gently: "wronged, or owes anything." It is likely that he had spent what was stolen. Therefore he says: charge it to my account, consider me the debtor.
Philem. 1:19. I, Paul, have written with my own hand: I will repay;
He says this excellently, writing with spiritual grace and as if saying: for greater assurance that I will pay the debt, my own handwritten letter serves as guarantee.
Philem. 1:19. I do not say to you that you owe me even your own self.
Lest it seem reproachful to Philemon that the apostle, as though not trusting him, does not simply ask him concerning the slave-thief, but also gives a written guarantee in his own hand — for this would signal that Philemon is hard-hearted and inattentive to his teacher — the apostle (by the words cited) gives him to understand that he trusts him, and greatly so. For not only with your own possessions, he says, but beyond that, you owe me even your very self.
Philem. 1:20. Yes, brother, let me have benefit from you in the Lord;
From heartfelt speech the apostle again passed to something more important, imploring: "let me have joy," he says, "of thee," that is, let me enjoy thy good deeds, not in worldly matters, but in those which are in the Lord.
Philem. 1:20. Calm my heart in the Lord.
Give rest, he says, to my love for you, or my heart for Christ's sake. For it is not to me that you do a kindness, but to Christ.
Philem. 1:21. Having confidence in your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
I, he says, wrote to you, not commanding and not out of self-love, but hoping in your obedience. What iron would not be softened by these words?
Philem. 1:22. And at the same time prepare a lodging for me as well.
It might have occurred to Philemon: if it were not for Onesimus, you would not have deemed me worthy of even a word. The Apostle heals this in advance, saying: I wrote not for his sake only, but also to ask you to prepare me a lodging; and at the same time, also to frighten him, because the Apostle will come and condemn him if he does not receive Onesimus.
Philem. 1:22. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
Two things we learn from this: first, how great is the power of prayer, if even the great Paul needs their help; second, that one must be humble, if Paul needs the prayers of his disciples.
Philem. 1:23. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
This Epaphras was sent to Paul by the Colossians; from this it is clear that Philemon was from Colossae. He calls him "fellow prisoner," showing that Epaphras too was in great distress, thereby making Philemon feel that if Epaphras suffers with Paul, will Philemon really not show mercy to Onesimus for his sake? "Fellow prisoner," he says, not for any human reason, but for the sake of Christ Jesus, suffering together with me for the Gospel.
Philem. 1:24. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
Demas at first enjoyed respect, as is attested here concerning him as a fellow worker of Paul, but afterwards through frivolity he fell away from Paul, as indeed Paul writes about this in the epistle to Timothy, written evidently after this epistle. "For Demas has forsaken me; only Luke is with me" (2 Tim. 4:9). Thus Luke, placed here last, became first of all when Demas fell away. So no one should place hope in himself, but let him who stands take heed lest he fall. By saying "fellow worker," he shows that they too together with me ask you, and it is worthy to show favorable attention to such persons.
You see what benefit we have received from this epistle, which seems brief and not requiring explanation? Be assured from this that in Scripture nothing should be left without investigation, but in all things, as spoken by the Spirit, one should seek some spiritual meaning and derive benefit. And surely the Comforter, Who spoke all of Scripture, will grant to those who seek what is good to find what they seek. May we always be enlightened and guided by Him toward true knowledge of God and right living, not being carried away by false teachings and not being enticed by the false sweetness of the world. Whoever among us is a slave, let him ennoble himself through faith and virtue, and whoever is a master, let him be zealous, seeing that slaves became saints and apostles, not to be found lower than them in the kingdom of the Master Who for our sake took upon Himself the form of a servant, Christ, our true God. To Him be glory and dominion and honor, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.