CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Philemon 1:17. If thou count me therefore a partner.—The master-stroke of the apostle’s policy. Who would not pay a goodly price for the privilege of calling such a man comrade or friend? Receive him as myself.—Not as a slave, nor a pardoned slave, nor a freedman, but as an apostle of God (cf. Galatians 4:14).
Philemon 1:18. Put that on mine account.—As we should say in modern mercantile language, “Debit me with it.”
Philemon 1:19. I Paul have written it.—R.V. “I Paul write it.” A signature to a deed in ancient or mediæval times would commonly take this form, “I so-and-so” (Lightfoot). Thou owest unto me even thine own self.—This is St. Paul’s creditor side of the account. With this debt outstanding he can meet the payment on account of Onesimus.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Philemon 1:17-19
The Unselfishness of Christian, Love—
I. Recognises the equal rights of Christian fellowship.—“If thou count me therefore as a partner, receive him as myself” (Philemon 1:17). Paul claims for the converted slave the same share and comradeship in Christian blessings as he and Philemon enjoyed. Love overleaps all minor distinctions, and admits its object into a full participation, on equal terms, of its holiest fellowship.
II. Generously undertakes responsibility for the deserving.—“If he hath wronged thee … I will repay it” (Philemon 1:18-19). “The formal tone of the promise rendered more formal by the insertion of the name—and perhaps by that sentence only being in his own handwriting—seems to warrant the explanation that it was half playful; for he could never have supposed that Philemon would exact the fulfilment of the bond, and we have no reason to suppose that, if he had, Paul could really have paid the amount. But beneath the playfulness there lies the implied exhortation to forgive the money wrong as well as the others which Onesimus had done him” (Maclaren). Love is often abused by undertaking obligations for the undeserving, but this does not prevent its helping the worthy. Love would rather suffer itself than that others should suffer, even by its cautious suppression.
III. Pleads for others by a delicate reminder of spiritual indebtedness.—“Albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides” (Philemon 1:19). Philemon owed Paul more than the mere money loss of which Onesimus was guilty. He owed his spiritual life which he had received through the apostle’s ministry. Love does not parade its services and insist upon its claims as if it were a matter of barter and exchange. We owe our all to Christ, but He does not harass us for the payment of the debt. He lovingly reminds us of it, to make obedience all the easier and pleasanter.
Lessons.—
1. Religion admits to a hallowed fellowship with all the good.
2. Love willingly shoulders the burdens of others.
3. Love is irresistibly persuasive.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
Philemon 1:17. Put Yourself in His Place.
I. Christianity has compassion for the erring.
II. The Christian benefactor remembers how much he has been himself forgiven.
III. Christianity is a partnership in Divine and spiritual treasures which it invites all men to share.
IV. Christianity raises the worst of slaves to the highest freedom.
Philemon 1:18-19. Vicarious Responsibility—
I. Becomes willingly chargeable for the debts of the truly penitent.
II. Is a faint imitation of the conduct of the Divine Redeemer.
III. Does not and cannot annihilate individual responsibility.
Philemon 1:19. An Undischargeable Debt.
I. We can never repay the man who led us to Christ.
II. The charm of the service rendered would be destroyed if the debt could be discharged.
III. Undischargeable debts will augment the enjoyment of souls in heaven.