Philemon, Chapter 1, verses 7-20

⁴ He rejoiceth to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, ⁹ whom he desireth to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again

⁷For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

⁸Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

⁹Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

¹¹Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

¹²Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

¹³Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

¹⁴But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

¹⁵For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

¹⁶Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

¹⁷If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

¹⁸If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

¹⁹I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

²⁰Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

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1:7 The saints - To whom Philemon's house was open, Pmn 1:2.

1:8 I might be bold in Christ - Through the authority he hath given me.

1:9 Yet out of love I rather entreat thee - In how handsome a manner does the apostle just hint, and immediately drop, the consideration of his power to command, and tenderly entreat Philemon to hearken to his friend, his aged friend, and now prisoner for Christ! With what endearment, in the next verse, does he call Onesimus his son, before he names his name! And as soon as he had mentioned it, with what fine address does he just touch on his former faults, and instantly pass on to the happy change that was now made upon him! So disposing Philemon to attend to his request, and the motives wherewith he was going to enforce it.

1:10 Whom I have begotten in my bonds - The son of my age.

1:11 Now profitable - None should be expected to be a good servant before he is a good man. He manifestly alludes to his name, Onesimus, which signifies profitable.

1:12 Receive him, that is, my own bowels - Whom I love as my own soul. Such is the natural affection of a father in Christ toward his spiritual children.

1:13 To serve me in thy stead - To do those services for me which thou, if present, wouldest gladly have done thyself.

1:14 That thy benefit might not be by constraint - For Philemon could not have refused it.

1:15 God might permit him to be separated (a soft word) for a season, that thou mightest have him for ever - Both on earth and in heaven.

1:16 In the flesh - As a dutiful servant. In the Lord - As a fellow - Christian.

1:17 If thou accountest me a partner - So that thy things are mine, and mine are thine.

1:19 I will repay it - If thou requirest it. Not to say, that then owest me thyself - It cannot be expressed, how great our obligation is to those who have gained our souls to Christ.Beside - Receiving Onesimus.

1:20 Refresh my bowels in Christ - Give me the most exquisite and Christian pleasure.

Luke, Chapter 17, verses 20-25

¹¹ He healeth ten lepers, ²² Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of man

²⁰And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

²¹Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

²²And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

²³And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

²⁴For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

²⁵But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.


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Catholic lectionary for 11 November 2004

Philemon, Chapter 1, verses 7-20

Luke, Chapter 17, verses 20-25