Philemon 1:19 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I Paul have written it with mine own hand,— The apostle seems commonly to have dictated, and another person to have wrote down what he said; or to have written a copy, and another transcribed it; (see 2 Thessalonians 3:17. 2 Peter 3:1.) but he probably wrote all this letter with his own hand; not only to engage to make restitution, if demanded, but to let Philemon see how much he interested himself in this affair. He directly promises to make restitution; but in an oblique manner only insinuates his own claim upon Philemon; whose conversion being one of the happy consequences of St. Paul's ministry, the apostle might justly saythat Philemon owed to him even his own self, or his very soul. How great an obligation has he expressed in these few words!