Phile 8-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Phlm 1:8-9: 1:8-9 The reason why Paul was asking a favor was Philemon’s reputation as a gracious, loving person (1:5-7 ). Paul could demand it by his authority as Christ’s apostle, but love leads Paul to request rather than demand. • Paul, an old man: Paul appeals to the respect due to older people as well as to his status as a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus , which would only increase a fellow Christian’s respect.

Summary for Phlm 1:8-9: 1:8-9 ^a The reason why Paul was asking a favor was Philemon’s reputation as a gracious, loving person (1:5-7 ^b). Paul could demand it by his authority as Christ’s apostle, but love leads Paul to request rather than demand.

• Paul, an old man: Paul appeals to the respect due to older people as well as to his status as a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, which would only increase a fellow Christian’s respect.
1:10 ^c show kindness: In the Roman world, runaway slaves could be treated harshly with whipping, branding, or even execution, at the owner’s discretion.

• Onesimus was Paul’s spiritual child because he became a believer through Paul’s ministry.
1:11 ^d Onesimus means “useful.”

• hasn’t been of much use (literally useless) ... very useful: This might be a play on words (cp. 1:20 ^e). Onesimus was now serving others and proclaiming the Good News. At last he had become what his name means.
Summary for Phlm 1:13-14: 1:13-14 ^f Paul hints at his desire that Philemon choose to free Onesimus to serve as Paul’s helper (also 1:21 ^g). The Christian life is a free response to God’s grace (Rom 12:1 ^h; Eph 4:1 ⁱ; Col 3:12-13 ^j).
1:15 ^k you lost Onesimus (literally he went away): This might be a euphemism for running away, in order not to mention Onesimus’s offense directly.

• so that you could have him back forever: It is implied that God providentially arranged events to lead to Onesimus’s salvation.
1:16 ^l Though Onesimus was still legally Philemon’s slave, Philemon must think of him as a beloved brother and be committed to his well-being.

• both as a man and as a brother in the Lord: Brotherhood in Christ must now transform their whole relationship in both the natural and spiritual realms.
1:18 ^m Onesimus might have stolen some things from Philemon’s home or had a debt to pay off when he ran away.
1:19 ⁿ Paul guarantees his promise with his signature. He typically dictated his letters to a secretary; on occasion, as here, he wrote something in his own hand.

• your very soul: That is, his salvation. Philemon owed Paul much more than anything Onesimus might have owed him. Whether this means Philemon was converted directly or indirectly through Paul’s preaching is not clear (cp. Col 1:7 ^o).
1:20 ^p do me this favor: Or let me have this benefit; Greek onaimēn (“favor, benefit”) might be a play on the name Onesimus, which can mean “beneficial” (cp. 1:11 ^q).
1:21 ^r and even more: Paul might be hinting that he would like to see Onesimus released (cp. 1:13-14 ^s), or he might simply be expressing confidence in Philemon’s kindness.
1:22 ^t Paul’s request for a guest room in anticipation of his visit reinforces his request that Philemon treat Onesimus kindly. At his coming, he would see how Onesimus had been treated.