Philemon 1:9 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philemon 1:8-25

We have here, I. The main business of the epistle, which was to plead with Phlm. on behalf of Onesimus, that he would receive him and be reconciled to him. Many arguments Paul urges for this purpose, Phlm. 1:8-21. The 1st Argument is taken from what was before noted, and is carried in the illative wherefore: ?Seeing so much good is reported of thee and found in thee, especially thy love to all saints, now let me see it on a fresh and further occasion; refresh the bowels of Onesimus and mine... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philemon 1:8-17

1:8-17 I could well be bold in Christ to give you orders as to where your duty lies, but for love's sake I would rather put it in the form of a request, I, Paul, such as I am, an old man now, a prisoner of Christ. My request to you is for my child, whom I begat in my bonds--I mean Onesimus, who was once useless to you, but who is now useful to you and to me. I am sending him back to you, and that is the same as to send you a bit of my own heart. I could have wished to keep him beside myself,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:9

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee ,.... Either for the sake of the great love which the apostle bore to Philemon, being, as he calls him, his dearly beloved, he took this method; or because of Philemon's great love to all the saints before mentioned, he was encouraged to proceed in this manner, hoping on that account to have success; or it may be, it was for the sake of that love with which God had loved him, and which he puts him in mind of, to engage him to grant his request; that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:9

Paul the aged - If we allow St. Paul to have been about 25 years of age at the utmost, in the year 31, when he was assisting at the martyrdom of Stephen, Acts 7:58 ; as this epistle was written about a.d. 62, he could not have been at this time more than about 56 years old. This could not constitute him an aged man in our sense of the term; yet, when the whole length of his life is taken in, being martyred about four years after this, he may not improperly be considered an aged or elderly... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:9

Verse 9 9.Being such a one. He claims the right to command on two grounds, that he is an elder, and that he is a prisoner for Christ He says that, on account of Philemon’s love, he chooses rather to entreat, because we interpose authority in commanding those things which we wish to extort by necessity even from the unwilling, but there is no need of commanding those who willingly obey. And because they who are ready of their own accord to do their duty listen more willingly to a calm statement... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:8-10

The religion of Christ a defense of social order, not a disturbing force. There have been religions which have been simply forces of destruction. Mohammedanism, when it was first preached, and even to this day, as far as its power extends, has the Koran in one hand and the scimitar in the other, and offers but the alternatives of conversion, slavery, or death. The actors in the French Revolution of 1789 strove to spread their new gospel of liberty, equality, and fraternity at the point of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:8-11

Appeal by entreaty rather than command. The apostle here enters on the main subject of his letter, and introduces it with a singular mixture of courtesy, affection, and authority. I. IT IS SOMETIMES WISE TO FOREGO THE EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY . "Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee." 1. Ministers possess authority . They are required to speak with authority. "Charge... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:9

Being such a one as Paul the aged ; a veteran . Theodoret comments thus: " For he who hears Paul, hears the preacher of the whole world, the traverser of land and sea, the chosen vessel, and other things besides he is …. He adds also 'the aged,' showing the gray hairs which have grown during his labors." " Non aetatem, sed offieium" (Calvin). Presbutēs may mean "an ambassador"—"the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and now also his prisoner," as in Ephesians 6:20 (and see Ephesians... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:9-10

Love's motive-power. "For love's sake I rather beseech thee … for my son Onesimus." Onesimus was a slave—one who in past times had been, as was natural, unmoved by any inspiration to good service—and was "unprofitable." He had been begotten again through the ministry of Paul, and now that he sends him back, he tells Philemon that the new Divine life in him will make him faithful, earnest, and "profitable." I. TRUTH TRIUMPHS IN TIME . Slavery did not fall at once, nor was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:9

Yet for love’s sake - For the love which you bear me, and for the common cause.I rather beseech thee - Rather than command thee.Being such an one as Paul the aged - πρεσβυτης presbutēs - an old man. We have no means of ascertaining the exact age of Paul at this time, and I do not recollect that he ever alludes to his age, though he often does to his infirmities, in any place except here. Doddridge supposes that at the time when Stephen was stoned, when he is called “a young man” (νεανίας... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philemon 1:8-25

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philemon 1:8-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:9-10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:9

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