Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • But of course He Has

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;  Philemon 1:18  NASB Wronged you – Paul speaks the impossible.  He suggests to Philemon, the slave owner, that Onesimus might not have done anything wrong.  “But if” plants the thought that running away wasn’t unlawful.  In fact,…

  • In This Together

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. Philemon 1:17  NASB Partner – Perhaps we need to add some additional synonyms to the English translation “partner.”  The Greek term is koinōnós, obviously connected to the familiar koinōnía, also from the root koinós.  This group of Greek words is all about sharing.  Whether it is…

  • Identity Change

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.  Philemon 1:16  NASB More than – We often read this verse with Pollyanna eyes.  That is to say, we think that Philemon won’t view Onesimus as a…

  • You Never Know

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,  Philemon 1:15  NASB Perhaps – One of the greatest blessings of life is that virtually any circumstance can be interpreted in more than one way.  Of course, it’s also a curse, but that’s how life works.  What is…

  • Legislated Morality

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.  Philemon 1:14  NASB By compulsion – It doesn’t work, does it?  Legislated morality, I mean.  No matter how many laws or how many threats and punishments, you simply…

  • Absentee Authority

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;  Philemon 1:13  NASB On your behalf – Nothing particularly special about the use of this preposition, hypér.  It simply means, “in the place of,” translated here as “on your behalf.”  What’s interesting…

  • Video Conference

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, Philemon 1:12  NASB In person – What an odd thing for Paul to write?  How else could Onesimus return to Philemon?  There wasn’t any internet.  No video conference.  Not even a telephone call.  Paul has only two choices: send a messenger (or…

  • The Annual Review

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.  Philemon 1:11 NASB Useless – This is an odd thing to say.  After all, we’re speaking about a slave.  What does a slave do?  Whatever the master commands.  A slave is useful precisely because a slave does what’s required. …