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"That you might receive him forever."

Text: Philemon 15

INTERPRETING LIFE’S EVENTS

It is never easy to interpret life’s events with full accuracy. There are too many twists and turns. There are human factors and there is the Divine factor. Nevertheless, we can sometimes make a good guess and look at things positively. This was Paul’s attempt in interpreting Onesimus’ circumstances.

“For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose,
that you might receive him forever.”
Philemon 15

1. “For perhaps”

a) The word “perhaps” is an adverb linked to the verb “departed”.

b) This was not used to state a definite fact.

c) This was offered as a possible way of interpreting Onesimus’ departure from Philemon.

d) This was not offered as an excuse for the wrong behaviour of Onesimus either.

2. “He departed”

a) Paul used the verb in an unusual way.

b) The use of the “passive voice” suggests that there could be a Divine factor involved.

i) Onesimus was of course guilty of running away.

ii) But perhaps due to Divine activity, he was “made to depart”.

iii) “Made to depart” is the force of the passive voice in this text.

3. “For a while”

a) Literally translated it would read, “for an hour”.

b) Idiomatically, it is rendered correctly, “for a while”.

4. “That you might”

a) Paul is making a suggestion here.

b) He is trying to offer one possible way of looking at the turn of events.

c) There could be a good and positive outcome or result.

5. “Receive him forever”

a) The word “receive” was an unusual word employed.

b) This word in the Greek language describes a technical term in the commercial world.

c) It describes the reception of a sum of money in full with a receipt attached.

d) Paul was asking for Onesimus to be received favourably and forever.