Looking at the life of fallen humanity, a thought sometimes involuntarily enters the mind: what if God, either Himself or through people specially appointed by Him, immediately rewarded and encouraged good deeds, and just as immediately stopped evil deeds and punished them...
Looking at the life of fallen humanity, a thought sometimes involuntarily enters the mind: what if God, either Himself or through people specially appointed by Him, immediately rewarded and encouraged good deeds, and just as immediately stopped evil deeds and punished them? Would we not then find ourselves in a world that, if not ideal, was at least much better than the one that now exists? At first glance it may appear that this is exactly how it would be. Who, indeed, would want to do anything bad knowing that he would be punished immediately? Except that people themselves would hardly become better because of it. After all, a person's spiritual life is determined above all by the choice he has made. And that choice must be voluntary. A choice made only out of fear of coming punishment cannot in any way be called voluntary. Strictly speaking, it is not a choice at all, because only a decision made freely, without any external pressure, can be considered a choice. Of course, pressure does not always lead to the desired results. Inner freedom often overcomes external influence, and a choice is made despite the situation, which does not in the least encourage a free decision. But in our hypothetical world, lack of freedom guaranteeing correct behavior would be the very source of goodness. And then it would turn out that people in such a world had not become better at all; they only seemed good, being forced to play the appropriate role. But in the Kingdom one must not play a role, but live. And God refuses to force people to do good. Paul, as a man of God, cannot fail to understand this, and he too does not want to make anyone do good deeds under compulsion, even if that compulsion were not by force but, for example, by authority or the pressure of public opinion. After all, his goal is not to force his addressee to behave well, but to point out to him the way into the Kingdom. A way that can be traveled only freely.
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1:1 This single epistle infinitely transcends all the wisdom of the world. And it gives us a specimen how Christians ought to treat of secular affairs from higher principles. Paul a prisoner of Christ - To whom, as such, Philemon could deny nothing. And Timotheus - This was written before the second epistle to Timothy, Pmn 1:22.
1:2 To Apphia - His wife, to whom also the business in part belonged. And the church in thy house - The Christians who meet there.
1:5 Hearing - Probably from Onesimus.
1:6 I pray that the communication of thy faith may become effectual - That is, that thy faith may be effectually communicated to others, who see and acknowledge thy piety and charity.
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.