A prisoner of Jesus Christ (δέσμιος)

A prisoner for Christ's sake. This is the only salutation in which Paul so styles himself. The word is appropriate to his confinement at Rome. Apostle would not have suited a private letter, and one in which Paul takes the ground of personal friendship and not of apostolic authority. A similar omission of the official title occurs in the Epistles to the Thessalonians and Philippians, and is accounted for on the similar ground of his affectionate relations with the Macedonian churches. Contrast the salutation to the Galatians.

Timothy, our brother

Lit., the brother. Timothy could not be called an apostle. He is distinctly excluded from this office in 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; compare Philippians 1:1. In Philippians and Philemon, after the mention of Timothy the plural is dropped. In Colossians it is maintained throughout the thanksgiving only. The title brother is used of Quartus, Romans 16:23; Sosthenes, 1 Corinthians 1:1; Apollos, 1 Corinthians 16:12.

Philemon

An inhabitant, and possibly a native of Colossae in Phrygia. The name figured in the beautiful Phrygian legend of Baucis and Philemon, related by Ovid ("Metamorphoses," viii., 626 sqq. See note on Acts 14:11). He was one of Paul's converts (Plm 1:19), and his labors in the Gospel at Colossae are attested by the title fellow-laborer, and illustrated by his placing his house at the disposal of the Colossian Christians for their meetings (Plm 1:2). The statements that he subsequently became bishop of Colossae and suffered martyrdom are legendary.

Philemon 1:1 Parallel Commentaries

A. D.

64. A. M.

4068.
a prisoner.

Philemon 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

See on

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation with which you are called,

Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

2 Timothy 1:8 Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner...

Timothy. See on

2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth...

Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Philemon. The apostle in this epistle indulges in some fine paronomasais on the proper names. Thus Philemon, [Philemon,] affectionate, or beloved, is 'our dearly beloved;' Apphia, ([Apphia from appha,] the affectionate address of a brother or sister, according to Suidas,) is 'the beloved sister,' as several MSS., Vulgate, and others correctly read; Archippus, ([Archippos,] the ruler of the horse, for the managing of which heros were anciently famous,) is 'our fellow- soldier;' and Onesimus, ([Onesimos,] useful or profitable,) once unprofitable, is now profitable.

and fellow labourer.

Philemon 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you are God's building.

Philippians 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger...

Philippians 4:3 And I entreat you also, true yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also...

Colossians 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow workers to the kingdom of God...

1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you...