Philemon i. 17-19
If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to mine account; I Paul write it with my own hand, I will repay it: that I say not to you how you owe unto me even your own self besides.
No procedure is so apt to gain a hearing, as not to ask for everything at once. For see after how many praises, after how much preparation he has introduced this great matter. After having said that he is my son, that he is a partaker of the Gospel, that he is my bowels, that you receive him back as a brother, and hold him as a brother, then he has added as myself. And Paul was not ashamed to do this. For he who was not ashamed to be called the servant of the faithful, but confesses that he was such, much more would he not refuse this. But what he says is to this effect. If you are of the same mind with me, if you run upon the same terms, if you consider me a friend, receive him as myself.
If he has wronged you at all. See where and when he has introduced the mention of the injury; last, after having said so many things in his behalf. For since the loss of money is particularly apt to annoy men, that he might not accuse him of this, (for it was most likely that it was spent,) then he brings in this, and says, If he has wronged you. He does not say, If he has stolen anything; but what? If he has wronged you. At the same time he both confessed the offense, and not as if it were the offense of a servant, but of a friend against a friend, making use of the expression of wrong rather than of theft.
Put that to mine account, he says, that is, reckon the debt to me, I will repay it. Then also with that spiritual pleasantry,
I Paul write it with my own hand. At once movingly and pleasantly; if when Paul did not refuse to execute a bond for him, he should refuse to receive him! This would both shame Philemon into compliance, and bring Onesimus out of trouble. I write it, he says, with my own hand. Nothing is more affectionate than these bowels, nothing more earnest, nothing more zealous. See what great concern he bestows in behalf of one man. Albeit I do not say to you how you owe unto me even your own self besides. Then that it might not appear insulting to him, whom he requests, if he had not the confidence to ask and obtain in behalf of a theft, he in some measure relieves this, saying, That I say not unto you how you owe to me even your own self besides. Not only your own things, but yourself also. And this proceeded from love, and was according to the rule of friendship, and was a proof of his great confidence. See how he everywhere provides for both, that he may ask with great security, and that this may not seem a sign of too little confidence in him.
Ver. 20. Yea, brother.
What is, Yea, brother? Receive him, he says. For this we must understand though unexpressed. For dismissing all pleasantry, he again pursues his former considerations, that is, serious ones. And yet even these are serious. For the things that proceed from Saints are of themselves serious, even when they are pleasantry.
Yea, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ.
That is, you grant the favor to the Lord, not to me. My heart, that is, toward yourself.
Ver. 21. Having confidence in your obedience, I write unto you.
What stone would not these things have softened? What wild beast would not these things have rendered mild, and prepared to receive him heartily? After having borne witness to him by so many great testimonies of his goodness, he is not ashamed again to excuse himself. He says, Not barely requesting it, nor as commanding it, nor arbitrarily, but having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you. What he had said at the beginning, having confidence, that he also says here in the sealing up of his letter.
Knowing that you will also do more than I say.
At the same time in saying this he excited him. For he would have been ashamed, though for nothing else, if having such credit with him as this, that he would do more than he said — he should not do so much.
Ver. 22. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
This also was the part of one who was exceedingly confident — or rather this too was in behalf of Onesimus, that not being indifferent, but knowing that he upon his return would know the things relating to him, they might lay aside all remembrance of the wrong, and might the rather grant the favor. For great was the influence and the honor of Paul residing among them, of Paul in his age, of Paul after imprisonment. Again, it is a proof of their love that he says that they pray; and to attribute to them so much as that they pray for him. For although I be now in danger, yet nevertheless you will see me if you pray for it.
Ver. 23. Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you.