ACC ~ Philemon 1 v21 - 25

OVERVIEW: Paul finishes with a renewed note of confidence, with a reminder of his imprisonment and suffering for the gospel and with a prayer for God’s gracious mercy—the key to everything (CHRYSOSTOM). Paul shows something of the nature of his work as a missionary, for he presumes upon the future hospitality of his host, yet his request for accommodations is modest, and he makes it clear that he is dependent on the prayers of the whole church (JEROME).

21-22 | Confident of Your Obedience

ALWAYS CONFIDENT. CHRYSOSTOM: What stone would not these words have softened? What wild beast would not these requests have rendered mild and prepared to receive him heartily? … What he had said at the beginning, “having confidence,” that he also says here in the sealing up of his letter. … This also was the part of one who was exceedingly confident. It may also be the case that this statement too was in behalf of Onesimus. For he, not being a neutral personage but rather being intimately knowledgeable about Paul’s situation and special to the apostle, they might lay aside all remembrance of the wrong and might the rather grant the favor. HOMILIES ON PHILEMON 3.

23 | Epaphras, My Fellow Prisoners

ALSO FROM COLOSSAE. CHRYSOSTOM: Epaphras was sent by the Colossians, so that from this it appears that Philemon was also at Colossae. And Paul calls him his “fellow prisoner,” showing that he was also in great tribulation, so that if not on his own account, yet on account of Epaphras, it was right that he should be heard. HOMILIES ON PHILEMON 3.

JEROME: Concerning the identity of Epaphras, Paul’s coprisoner, we accept a story. Some say that the apostle Paul’s parents were from Giscala in Judea and that when the province was devastated by the Romans and the Jews scattered, they emigrated to Tarsus in Cilicia, where Paul was born. Here he inherited as a young man the personal status of his parents. Thus he could state: “They are Hebrews, but so am I; they are Israelites, so am I; they are Abraham’s seed, so am I.” And again, “I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews.” These indicate that he felt himself more of a Jew than a citizen of Tarsus. Because this was so, we can guess that Epaphras was captured and imprisoned about the same time and that with his parents in Colossae, a city of Asia, he later received the word about Christ. COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON.

25 | The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

THE ONE THING NEEDFUL. CHRYSOSTOM: He has finished his epistle with a prayer. And indeed prayer is a great good, beneficial, and preserves our souls. But prayer is great when we act in line with our prayers and do not undermine by our behavior the very thing for which we pray. And you, too, therefore, when you go to the priest, and he says to you, “The Lord will have mercy on you, my son,” do not trust in the word only but add works to your trust. Mercy is an excellent thing! Why, then, haven’t you shown it to another? HOMILIES ON PHILEMON 3.