Filemon 1:9-10

1:9 I would rather appeal ¹  to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man ²  and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus ³  – 1:10 I am appealing ⁴  to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become ⁵  during my imprisonment, ⁶  that is, Onesimus,

Filemon 1:15

1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, ⁷ 

Filemon 1:21

1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than ⁸  what I am asking you to do.

¹ tn Or “encourage.”

² tn Or perhaps “an ambassador” (so RSV, TEV), reading πρεσβευτής for πρεσβύτης (a conjecture proposed by Bentley, cf. BDAG 863 s.v. πρεσβύτης). NRSV reads “old man” and places “ambassador” in a note.

³ tn Grk “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

⁴ tn Or “I am encouraging…”

⁵ tn Grk “my child whom I have begotten.” The adjective “spiritual” has been supplied before “father” in the translation to clarify for the modern reader that Paul did not literally father a child during his imprisonment. Paul’s point is that he was instrumental in Onesimus’ conversion while in prison.

⁶ sn During my imprisonment. Apparently Onesimus became a believer under Paul’s shepherding while he [Paul] was a prisoner in Rome.

⁷ sn So that you would have him back eternally. The notion here is not that Onesimus was to be the slave of Philemon eternally, but that their new relationship as brothers in Christ would transcend the societal structures of this age. The occasion of Onesimus’ flight to Rome would ultimately be a catalyst in the formation of a new and stronger bond between these two men.

⁸ tn Grk “that you would even go beyond.”