Philemon 1:19-25

¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

²² But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

with my own hand (v.19) — Paul wrote many of his letters by dictating them to someone else who did the actual writing. This one (and Galatians) he wrote himself.

Paul was willing to pay whatever restitution was necessary for Onesimus to be reconciled to Philemon. This letter, written with Paul’s own hand, was a binding contract stating that Paul would repay whatever Onesimus owned his master. — Grace, page 2168.

you owe me even your own self (v.19) — Paul led Philemon to Christ.

even more (v.21) — free Onesimus entirely? Williams thinks so (below).

The closing words of the letter plainly reveal the writer’s belief that Philemon would forgive his slave; free him; and not expect compensation from the Apostle for any loss occasioned by him. — Williams, page 970.

Mark (v.24) — John Mark (Acts 13:13; 15:36-41; 2 Timothy 4:11).

Aristarchus (v.24) — one of Paul’s converts from Thessalonica. He traveled with Paul on this third journey (Acts 20:4) and to Rome (Acts 27:2: Colossians 4:10).

Demas (v.24) — who later turned forsook Paul because he “loved this present world” (2 Timothy4:10).

Luke (v.24) — the physician who traveled with Paul and who wrote Luke and Acts.

We can safely conclude that Philemon brought much joy to the Apostle Paul and proved his love by receiving Onesimus with open arms. The reason being that this letter would have never been made public if Philemon had punished Onesimus or put him to death. He would have crumpled it up and thrown it in the fire. — Grace, page 2169.