Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • 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. …

  • Turning on the Tears

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,  Philemon 1:10  NASB Child – But, of course, Onesimus is not a child.  Most commentators assume that Paul uses the Greek téknon to describe Onesimus’ “conversion” birth under Paul’s tutelage.  Perhaps that’s why Paul doesn’t use the usual país (boy or girl…

  • You’re Like Me

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus  Philemon 1:9  NASB Appeal – You know this Greek word.  You just don’t know it in this context.  The word is parakaléō, usually associated with the Christian idea of the Holy Spirit.  What it really…

  • Seal of Approval

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,  Philemon 1:8  NASB Confidence – If we only had this sentence, we would think that Paul is acting like the Pope.  Of course, the next sentence makes it clear that he isn’t issuing a papal bull, but we haven’t investigated that next sentence…

  • The Set-Up

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.  Philemon 1:7  NASB 1995 Refreshed – Paul has an agenda.  It’s obvious and simple.  He wants Philemon to accept Onesimus not as a slave but as a brother in the Messiah.  Like…