Today’s Word
The IOU
I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Philemon 1:19 NASB You owe to me – “I really don’t want to bring this up. It’s not something that needs to be mentioned among friends. But—just…
But of course He Has
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
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
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
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
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…
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