Philemon 1:15 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For perhaps he therefore departed Δια τουτο εχωρισθη, for this reason he was separated; a soft expression, to denote Onesimus's running away from his master; for it contains an insinuation that this had happened providentially; for a season Προς ωραν, for an hour, a little while; that thou shouldest receive him Ινα αιωνιον αυτον απεχης, mightest have or possess him; for ever That is, as Dr. Doddridge paraphrases the clause, “That he might not only be dear and useful to thee during all the remainder of his life, as a servant, whose ear is, as it were, bored to the door of thy house, (to allude to the Hebrew custom, Exodus 21:6,) but that he might indeed be a source of eternal delight to thee in that infinitely better world, where all distinctions between masters and their slaves shall cease, even that world of complete liberty and everlasting friendship.” The apostle here made the same kind of apology for Onesimus which Joseph made for his brethren, (Genesis 45:5,) Now therefore be not grieved; for God did send me before you to preserve life. The providence of God often brings good out of evil. Yet we must not for that reason do evil that good may come. Not now as a servant Or slave, as he was formerly, when ignorant and wicked, much less as a fugitive slave, to be long frowned upon; but above a slave, or even a common servant As standing in another, a much more dear and honourable relation; as a brother beloved, especially to me Whom he has attended with great assiduity in my afflictions; but how much more unto thee To whom he belongs; both in the flesh As a dutiful servant; and in the Lord As a fellow-Christian. That Philemon might not be offended at him for calling his fugitive slave his brother, the apostle acknowledges him for his own brother also, as being now a son of God, and an heir of life eternal.