Philemon 1:8-12

Philemon 1:8-12



KJV(i) 8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

Expanded Bible


Accept Onesimus as a Brother

8 So, in Christ, I could be bold and order you to do what is ·right [required; proper; your duty]. 9 But because I love you, I am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you instead. I, Paul, an old man now and also a prisoner [C in Rome, about ad 60; Acts 28:16–31; Phil. 1:7] for Christ Jesus, 10 am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you for my child Onesimus, ·who became my child [L whom I begat/fathered; C Paul evidently led Onesimus to Christ in Rome] while I was in prison. 11 In the past he was ·useless [unprofitable; worthless] to you, but now he has become ·useful [helpful; valuable] for both you and me [C a play on words, since Onesimus means “useful” or “helpful”].

12 I am sending him back to you, and ·with him I am sending my own heart [or he is my very heart].

Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.


These are my thoughts, please share yours.

8 Our boldness as Christians should never be in ourselves because this is pride and is a sin but our boldness should be from Him and in Him, this will not lead us away. There are commands we should follow as His followers this does not mean we are saved by our works but means by our saving faith in Him, He will work thru us. Sometimes it takes someone telling us for us to hear God’s word.

9 We as Christians need to do things out of love a love for our Lord first and then a love for others. Paul was in a jail in Rome at this time; he has spent his years spreading the gospel after he came to faith.

10 Onesimus was lead to faith by Paul this is not referring to being a physically father but a spiritually father. He was the slave to Philemon and the reason why Paul wrote the letter.

11 He was just a slave some one who had to be forced to work. Paul found encouragement thru Onesimus and know because he was a believer he would be able serve better because of knowing God putting him as a slave for a reason.

12 Paul was sending him back. Philemon could have chosen t resell him beat him our kill him for leaving because he was Philemon’s property. Paul wrote this letter to try to convince Philemon to forgive and allow Onesimus to prove his worth.