CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Philemon 1:4. I thank my God.—There the apostle carries all his joys and troubles into the presence of his God.
Philemon 1:5. Hearing of thy love.—Perhaps the bearer of the refreshing news was Epaphras. The love of Philemon is the chief element so far as the immediate purpose of the apostle is concerned. And of the faith.—The explanation of this order generally given is by the figure called chiasmus. In Philemon 1:5, “love and faith”; in Philemon 1:6-7, “faith and love.” Meyer’s explanation is that faith here means fidelity, and is not to be taken in the dogmatic sense.
Philemon 1:6. That the communication of thy faith.—R.V. “fellowship.” Two interpretations of this phrase deserve consideration.
(1) Your friendly offices and sympathies, your kindly deeds of charity which spring from your faith.
(2) Your communion with God through faith. The parallel passages strongly support the former sense (Lightfoot).
Philemon 1:7. Because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.—R.V. “hearts.” This letter, short as it is, contains this expression three times. Lightfoot considers the prominent idea to be that of terror, grief, despondency, etc., and the refreshing as a preparation for the renewal of labour or suffering.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Philemon 1:4-7
Distinguished Christian Excellence—
I. Is an occasion of thanksgiving and prayer.—“I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers” (Philemon 1:4). The frequent expression of the apostle’s thanks and prayers indicates his habitual devoutness of spirit. A prayerful heart is keenly appreciative of the least evidence of Christian excellence, and joyfully thanks God as the Source and Giver of all good. Prayer and gratitude are usually blended together.
II. Manifested in a loving heart (Philemon 1:5).—Love, though mentioned first, is really the result of faith, but it is the grace the apostle in this instance wishes to prominently refer to, and to be exercised towards the runaway slave. Love is the essence, the strength, and the ornament of the Christian character. Without love all other graces are cold and inactive.
III. Practically appreciates the best things in the Christian life (Philemon 1:6).—The apostle’s prayer for Philemon desires the enlargement of the fellowship of his faith so as to recognise and experience every good thing of which Christ is the source. The germs of all Christian excellencies are planted in the heart when we believe in Christ, but they must be nurtured into growth and expansiveness by exercise and by practical benevolence. In every Christian heart there are the potentialities of all good: every grace is developed by use.
IV. Shown in sympathetic benevolence (Philemon 1:7).—Philemon’s good to others, in supplying the wants and cheering the hearts of the saints, was a joy and comfort to the apostle. All our works should be done, as a primal motive, to please God; but it is no small motive to persevere in well-doing, that our good deeds give pleasure to those we esteem and love. “Neither Paul nor Philemon dreamed that, made immortal by the word of the former, the same transient act would find its way across the centuries, and would ‘smell sweet and blossom in the dust’ to-day.”
Lessons.—
1. The Christian life is a life of love.
2. Christianity is practical benevolence.
3. Growth in piety is an occasion of joy to the good.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
Philemon 1:4. Thanksgiving and Prayer—
I. Are the evidences of a genuine Christian spirit.
II. Should be always united.
III. Act and react upon each other.
IV. Should be constantly cultivated.
V. Are pleasing to God.
Philemon 1:5-7. Christian Love—
I. Is the product of a vital faith (Philemon 1:5).
II. Is the love of God and man (Philemon 1:5)
III. Sees good so far as it sees Christ in everything (Philemon 1:6).
IV. Occasions joy to others by its timely and beneficent ministries.