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"I, Paul, am writing with my own hand..."

Text: Philemon 19

NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE

The Apostle Paul did not try to take advantage of his good friend Philemon. He knew that Onesimus had wronged Philemon and he was thus liable. He was willing to pay the debt(s) that Onesimus had incurred.

“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.”
Philemon 19

1. “I, Paul”

a) There is obvious emphasis here.

b) Paul wrote his name here for added emphasis.

2. Am writing to you

a) We have what is called “an Epistolary Aorist”.

b) What does that mean?

i) Literally translated it would read, “I, Paul, wrote to you”.

ii) From the standpoint of Philemon, Paul would have written this letter some time back.

iii) From the standpoint of Paul, he was writing in the Present Tense.

iv) This is just a literary device.

3. “With my own hand”

a) This letter was personally written by Paul.

b) There is a special sense of tenderness here.

c) Only one who is a very dear and close friend would understand and appreciate these words.

4. “I will repay”

a) This was a promise that Paul was giving to Philemon.

b) It must have deeply moved the heart of Onesimus to know just how far Paul would go for him!

5. “Not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides”

a) This is a language that “outsiders” would never fully fathom.

b) It is a language shared by two people who are great friends and who go way back!

c) What did Philemon owe to the apostle Paul?

i) Paul must have been pivotal in helping Philemon come to faith in Christ.

ii) Philemon’s faith in the Lord may have grown significantly through Paul’s friendship.