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Philemon
Commentary
I.
Content of the Epistle
Love Your Brothers
I. Salutation (v.1-3)
II. Praise and prayer (v.4-7)
III. Request and intercession (v.8-17)
IV. Commitment and assurance (v.18-22)
V. Greeting and blessing (v.23-25)
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Philem. 1 “Paul
a prisoner of
Christ Jesus
and Timothy our brother
To Philemon our beloved friend and
fellow laborer
”
YLT: “Paul
a prisoner of
Christ Jesus
and Timotheus the brother
to Philemon our beloved and
fellow-worker
”
Meaning of Words: “Philemon”: heart
reigns
friendliness
friendship.
Literal Meaning: “Paul
a prisoner of Christ
Jesus” “a prisoner of
Christ Jesus” apparently
Paul was imprisoned by the Roman government
however
he regarded himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus actually------he was
imprisoned by the sovereign arrangement of Christ so that he could suffer with
Him and he shall also be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17).
Unusually
Paul did not use
his apostleship in this epistle (See Rom. 1:1; 1Cor. 1:1; 2Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1;
Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1Tim. 1:1; 2Tim. 1:1; Tit. 1:1). Contrarily
he emphasized
on his identity of a prisoner to ask a favor for others. He not only cleared up
the sense of being threatened but also was amiable as a friend.
“And
Timothy our brother” the tone of this
epistle shows that it is written by Paul himself (“I” See v.4
8
9……).
However
Paul put his name and the name of Timothy together to the salutation
and there may be there possibilities: 1) Philemon knew Timothy; 2) Paul probably
had communicated with Timothy concerning the matter of Onesimus; 3) Paul
respected Timothy his fellow labor.
“To
Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer” The appellation “fellow labor” is spoken
concerning the work of the Lord. According to the traditional saying of the
church
“Philemon” was one of the elders in the church at Colosse and the
church gathered together in his house (See v.2).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is glorious that believers are imprisoned for
the Lord and we should rejoice in it because our reward is great in heaven
(Matt. 5:11-12).
2) If we indeed have a feeling of “prisoners of
Christ Jesus”
we won’t walk randomly and will be willing to be limited and
restrained by the Lord.
Philem. 2 “to the beloved Apphia
Archippus our fellow soldier
and to the church in your house:”
YLT: “and Apphia the
beloved
and Archippus our fellow-soldier
and the assembly in thy house:”
Literal Meaning: “to the beloved Apphia” “the beloved Apphia” (in the Chinese version there is sister before
Apphia and it refers to sister in the Lord); “Apphia” according to the
individual nature of this epistle
she must be the family member of Philemon
and probably she was his wife because wives played an important role in dealing
with fugitive bondmen.
“Archippus
our fellow soldier” “fellow soldier”
in the original refers to battle companions who experience fierce battles
together and here it refers to those who work for the Lord together (See 2Cor.
10:4; 1Tim.1:18: 2Tim. 2:3); “Archippus” may be the son of Philemon who devoted
himself to participating in the work of preaching and shepherding the church
(See Col. 4:17).
“And
to the church in your house” believers in the
church in Colosse probably gathered together in the house of Philemon. Paul
made the whole church care for the matter of fugitive slaves
showing that he
considered thoroughly------he not only considered Onesimus’ present situation and asked all the Saints to
deal with the problems between Christian masters and bondmen but also paved the
way for his service in the church later.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) How beautiful and good that husband and wife and
parents and children in the family and all the Saints in the church could make
decisions with the same mind!
2) It is indeed a good thing that one could open
his house for the gathering and communion of all the Saints.
Philem. 3 “Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “Grace to you
and
peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ!”
Meaning of Words: “grace”: joy
kindness
love.
Literal Meaning: “Grace and peace” “grace” is the benefit that God gives men
to let them enjoy freely. The greatest grace for men is that God Himself is
obtained and enjoyed by them. “Peace” does not refer to the smooth going of
environments but the calm and comfort of the inner states. In other words
peace is the state that men have enjoyed the salvation of God so that men could
have peace with both God and men.
“To
you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” “God
our Father” God is the God of
the world
however
He is our father. God is the springhead of grace and peace
and we believers are vessels that enjoy grace and peace. “The Lord Jesus
Christ” is the channel of grace and peace. We must enjoy grace and peace
through Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians are those who enjoy the grace of God
and therefore their life must have pleasant points. The Christianity without
attraction is not the true Christianity.
2) Grace is a gift which men cannot gain by
themselves because men do not have merits worthy of grace.
3) Grace is the source of peace and peace is the
result of grace. It is impossible for men to have God’s peace if they have not
asked for God’s grace.
4) We should not seek after peace besides God. The
short cut of the true peace is doing the will of God.
5) Believers’ peace is neither related to
environments nor influenced by things in the outside world.
6) Luther
Martin said that grace and peace
summarize the whole Christianity. Grace makes us be delivered from sins and
peace makes our conscience calm (it is translated from the Chinese version).
Philem. 4 “I thank my God
making
mention of you always in my prayers
”
YLT: “I give thanks to my
God
always making mention of thee in my prayers
”
Literal Meaning: “Making mention of you in my
prayers” the plural word
“prayers” means praying usually and at the first opportunity and praying at all
times and unceasingly.
“I thank my God…always” the word “always” stresses on the lasting
thanksgiving.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What the self-centered ones (i.e. the selfish
ones) consider in their hearts is nothing more than the pains and happiness of
themselves and their family members and they never consider the matters of
others.
2) Every time Paul mentioned others
he thought
about God. God is the hub of our relations. If one does not have God in his
life
probably he deals with others according to gains and loses and he lacks
the friendship of sacrificing oneself.
3) Without God we cannot bring the true benefits to
others.
4) If our walkings cannot make men thank God for
us
we won’t have good testimonies.
5) Paul mentioned “my God”
showing his good
relationship with God. Not only Paul was possessed by God but also God is possessed
by Paul.
6) Does our relationship with God merely rely on
the objective truth or the subjective experience that we regard God as our
reliance and help in everything?
7) It is true that there are many troubles in
serving the church
however
there are also much consolation!
Philem. 5 “hearing of your love and
faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints
”
YLT: “hearing of thy love
and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints
”
Literal Meaning: “hearing of your love” “love” is worked by faith originally (Gal.
5:6) and faith should be mentioned before love. However
Paul mentioned love
first and then faith for the special condition of this epistle.
The word “hearing of” shows
that the love of Philemon was talked with great relish by all the saints and he
was an elder with great love.
“And
faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints” in the original
there is a preposition
before “the Lord Jesus” and “all the saints” respectively in this verse and it
refers to their direction and belonging. It could be translated into “toward
the Lord Jesus” and “upon all the saints”. According to what Paul himself had
mentioned in other epistles
faith is mainly toward Christ Jesus and love is
mainly toward all the saints (See Col. 1:4). And therefore this verse probably
means that your faith toward the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints.
However
here it probably shows that your love and faith are both toward the
Lord Jesus and all the saints. At any rate
love and faith are closely related
to each other and they are inseparable.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Love is worked by faith and faith is manifested
by faith. Faith is in the hearts and invisible
however
faith could be manifested
through love.
2) A normal Christian should keep the balance
between love and faith----having both love and faith. The more faith one has
the more love he will show.
3) Those who love God must love men. If we do not
love our brother whom we have seen
we cannot love God whom we have not seen
(1John. 4:20).
4) The true faith is the foundation of the true
love. If we do not have the normal faith toward God
we won’t have the normal
love toward men.
5) One should have faith toward God and love toward
men. All those who truly have faith toward God must have love toward all the
saints.
6) Faith keeps our relationship with God normal and
love keeps our relationship with men normal.
7) The love of believers should begin with loving
“all the saints” and then reach loving “all” (2Pet. 1:7).
8) If believers merely have love and lack the
support of the true faith
what they have done could be regarded as their being
swayed by emotions.
9) Christ Jesus is the source of faith and the more
we know Christ
the more faith we will have.
10) Paul mentioned “all the saints” instead of “all
believers”
showing that those who believed in the Lord Jesus all have been
separated by God and they are holy in the eyes of God.
Philem. 6 “that the sharing of your
faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is
in you in Christ Jesus.”
YLT: “that the fellowship
of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that
in you toward Christ Jesus;”
Meaning of Words: “sharing”:
communion
friendship
fellowship
partnership; “acknowledgement”: full
knowledge
full discernment
full recognition.
Literal Meaning: “that the sharing of your
faith may become effective” “the sharing of
your faith” is the communion of faith. “Become effective” refers to having
effective results.
“By
the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus” “acknowledgement” implies full
understanding and clear recognition. “By the acknowledgement of” refers to
making others see and realize. “Every good thing” refers to all good things
that Christians have done in love. “In Christ Jesus” refers to toward and unto
Christ Jesus.
This verse means that may you be used to sharing
faith with all the saints and let it become effective
so that all will fully
recognize that every good thing in you is for Christ and to Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The communion of faith is not quiet
inactive or
ineffective. All the relationships that are not of faith are the worldly
communication and they are merely social communication.
2) Christians learn to know Christ through giving
and are filled by Christ through completely humbling and emptying themselves.
3) The most reliable way for Christians to know the
riches of Christ further is to open their generous hearts and stretch out their
hands of compassion.
4) Those who know Christ the most are not the Bible
scholars with excellent word or even the saints only pray all the day but those
who are kind and generous to men.
Philem. 7 “For we have great joy and
consolation in your love
because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed
by you
brother.”
YLT: “for we have much
joy and comfort in thy love
because the bowels of the saints have been
refreshed through thee
brother.”
Meaning of Words: “consolation”:
encouragement
imploration
appeal
solace; “refresh”: take ease
renew
strength.
Literal Meaning: “in your love
brother” there is a preposition and an article
before “love” and it specially refers to many things that Philemon had done in
love.
“For we have great joy and consolation” it refers to rejoicing and being
encouraged greatly.
“Because the hearts of the saints have
been refreshed by you” “the saints”
refers to Christians at Colosse. “Refreshing” The Greek used this word to
describe the mood of soldiers when they are tired in a march and have a rest on
the sides of the road. Here it indicates that the hearts of all saints feel
pleasant for it.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Good works bring more encouragement to the saints
than many messages.
2) It is a lovable thing that one’s house makes
those who believe in God come to have a rest and make them pleasant both in
body and mind!
Philem. 8 “Therefore
though I might
be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting
”
YLT: “Wherefore
having
in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --”
Meaning of Words: “what is fitting”:
reaching a certain standard
be proper.
Literal Meaning: “be very bold…to command you what is fitting” “what is fitting” refers to things and duties we
should do
i.e. things proper for the identity of Christians.
Philem. 9 “yet for love's sake I
rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul
the aged
and now also a
prisoner of Jesus Christ--”
YLT: “because of the love
I rather entreat
being such an one as Paul the aged
and now also a prisoner
of Jesus Christ;”
Meaning of Words: “appeal to”: call
near
beseech
entreat
implore.
Literal Meaning: “being such a one as Paul
the aged” “the aged” Paul’s
actual age was unknown and he may be between 55 and 60 at that time. Paul’s
body was damaged and he called himself the aged because he suffered various
persecutions and toil.
“And
now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ”
it shows that this epistle was written when Paul was imprisoned the Roman for
the first time.
“Yet for love's sake I rather appeal to
you” “appeal to” is opposite to “command” in
v.8.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though authority could make men surrender
it is
inferior to requesting in love which could make men surrender willingly.
2) Love from men’s hearts is more powerful than the
outer authority. Men may resist authority
however
love shall soften it.
Philem. 10 “I appeal to you for my
son Onesimus
whom I have begotten while in my chains
”
YLT: “I entreat thee
concerning my child -- whom I did beget in my bonds -- Onesimus
”
Meaning of Words: “Onesimus”: profitable.
Literal Meaning: “whom I have begotten while
in my chains” refers to the new
believer who was gained through the gospel in the prison.
Philem. 11 “who once was unprofitable
to you
but now is profitable to you and to me.”
YLT: “who once was to
thee unprofitable
and now is profitable to me and to thee
”
Literal Meaning: “who once was unprofitable
to you” here Paul used a
pun purposely. The original meaning of “Onesimus” was “profitable”. However
he
was unprofitable to Philemon because he abandoned his master and ran away and
the condition was opposite to the meaning of his name.
“But
now is profitable to you and to me”
“once…but now” shows the great power of the gospel which is able to make the
complete and thorough change. Today he who was once unprofitable became
profitable because he had believed in the Lord and the name of Onesimus indeed
conformed to his life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those that do not have the life of Christ only
care for themselves and never take care of others and consequently they do many
things which harm others to benefit themselves and they are unprofitable to
others.
2) If the faith of Christian is unable to make
others see the change of life
probably his faith is not pure and there is
something wrong with his faith.
3) The one who lets Christ reign in their hearts
shall be profitable to others no matter how bad he was. Christians should let
men around us feel that we are profitable to them.
Philem. 12 “I am sending him back.
You therefore receive him
that is
my own heart
”
YLT: “whom I did send
again
and thou him (that is
my own bowels) receive
”
Meaning of Words: “heart”: feelings
bowels.
The
Background: at that time salves
were regarded as properties of masters and they were living tools instead of
men. According to the Roman law
masters had the right of their life. And
therefore Onesimus indeed took a risk of life to return to his
master.
Literal Meaning: “I am sending him back.” It means that Paul handed the matter of
Onesimus over to you to deal with.
“Him
that is
my own heart” It means that he
was my beloved one and his experience would touch my heart.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christianity does not teach men to flee from the
past and ignore it but make men face the fact and find out a way to solve it.
2) What the faith of Christians brings to men is a
new relation among men which annuls all the outward differences.
3) Christians are of one body----whether Jews or
Greeks
whether slaves or free (1Cor. 12:13). In Christ there is neither Jew
nor Greek
there is neither slave nor free (Gal. 3:28;
Philem. 13 “whom I wished to keep
with me
that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the
gospel.”
YLT: “whom I did wish to
retain to myself
that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of
the good news
”
Meaning of Words: “wish”: consider
mind.
Literal Meaning: “whom I wished to keep with
me” “wished” shows that he once had such
consideration. “Keep with me” refers to staying in the Roman prison.
“That
on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel” “on your behalf” shows that the one who is
taught the word is responsible for rewarding him who teaches (See Gal. 6:6).
“Minster” refers to the services of various chores. Paul was imprisoned for the
sake of the gospel and he indeed needed others to minister him according to the
condition at that time and his age.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The world has a sense of gratitude
how much
more shall believers? Those who
have been bestowed grace should show their thanksgiving.
2) When one decision is made among believers
we
should neither decide on our own nor force others to do something and we should
hold fast to the principle of “till he please” (Song of Sol. 2:7).
Philem. 14 “But without your consent
I wanted to do nothing
that your good deed might not be by compulsion
as it
were
but voluntary.”
YLT: “and apart from thy
mind I willed to do nothing
that as of necessity thy good deed may not be
but
of willingness
”
Meaning of Words: “want”: be disposed
will.
Literal Meaning: “But without your consent I
wanted to do nothing
” “wanted… nothing”
shows that one never makes a decision flatly without the agreement of others.
“That
your good deed might not be by compulsion
as it were
but voluntary.” “Compulsion” refers to being forced to do
something; “voluntary” refers to of one’s own accord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The principle Christians’ walking is that we do
nothing without the agreement of those who are involved.
2) We should not force others to do good
so that
men’s motive and good works may be voluntary and of the love to God.
Philem. 15 “For perhaps he departed
for a while for this purpose
that you might receive him forever
”
YLT: “for perhaps because
of this he did depart for an hour
that age-duringly thou mayest have him
”
Meaning of Words: “a while”: an hour;
“receive”: receive in full
take back.
Literal Meaning: “For perhaps he departed for
a while for this purpose” “departed” is the
passive voice and therefore Onesimus did not take the initiative to go away but
that he was separated under God’s arrangement.
“That
you might receive him forever” “forever” is in
contrast to “a while” in the previous sentence. It refers to the relation
between one another in the Lord. “Receive” refers to having completely.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians should always welcome those who once
made mistakes. Many times we suspect those who had gone on the wrong track and
show that we won’t trust them forever. We trust that God will forgive them
however
it is really hard for us to do it.
2) Christians should have little regard for the
things which are temporal and respect the things which are eternal (See 2Cor.
4:17-18).
Philem. 16 “no longer as a slave but
more than a slave--a beloved brother
especially to me but how much more to
you
both in the flesh and in the Lord.”
YLT: “no more as a servant
but above a servant -- a brother beloved
especially to me
and how much more
to thee
both in the flesh and in the Lord!”
Literal Meaning: “no longer as a slave” “no longer as” is not implicit but
realistic.
“But
more than a slave--a beloved brother”
Here it refers to the relation of believers in Christ. Paul’s words probably
suggested to Philemon that he should release Onesimus and set him free.
“Especially
to me but how much more to you” It means that Paul
and Onesimus were strangers to each other and they even became beloved brothers
in the Lord
how much more shall Philemon be more joyous and love Onesimus
because they were master and servant.
“Both
in the flesh and in the Lord.” “In the flesh”
refers to speaking concerning the relation of men; “in the Lord” refers to
speaking concerning the relation in the Lord.
Philem. 17 “If then you count me as a
partner
receive him as you would me.”
YLT: “If
then
with me
thou hast fellowship
receive him as me
”
Literal Meaning: there is a word “therefore”
in the beginning of the verse and it means that Philemon should do it on the
basis of the reason in v.16.
“If then you count me as a partner” “a partner” refers to a coworker.
“Receive
him as you would me” “receive” refers
to taking to oneself; “as you would me” refers to regarding him as a partner.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The relation among believers is that we are
partners who run on the heavenly way together and co-workers who pursue the
spiritual benefits.
2) Believers should not make a different among
ourselves (James. 2:1-8) and we should not hold to the one and despise the
other
or hate the one and love the other.
Philem. 18 “But if he has wronged you
or owes anything
put that on my account.”
YLT: “and if he did hurt
to thee
or doth owe anything
this to me be reckoning;”
Meaning of Words: “wrong”: bully
be
unjust
owe money.
Literal Meaning: “But if he has wronged you
or owes anything” “has wronged you”
shows that Onesimus not only ran away but also stole the money of his master.
“Put
that on my account” It is the
commercial term which refers to fully assuming one’s debts and taking the
responsibility for paying back.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Love is bearing all the pain and assuming the
debts of the other side.
2) The Lord teaches us to “go and do likewise” in
the metaphor of a good Samaritan (Luke. 10:37). When we help others
we should
help them to the end.
Philem. 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.”
YLT: “I
Paul did write
with my hand
I -- I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself
besides
to me thou dost owe.”
Literal Meaning: “I
Paul
am writing with my
own hand. I will repay” the epistle with
“I am writing with my own hand” shows that it is an effective due bill
so that
he must repay. It is not a joke.
“Not
to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides” it shows that Philemon became a Christian
by the guidance of Paul.
Philem. 20 “Yes
brother
let me have
joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.”
YLT: “Yes
brother
may I
have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;”
Meaning of Words: “refresh”: rest
refreshed.
Literal Meaning: “Yes
brother
let me have
joy from you in the Lord;” “joy” is regarded
as benefit in the ancient writing. Paul used the meaning of Onesimus again
through the pun.
“Refresh
my heart in the Lord” “refresh” refers
to being entirely free from worry. Paul suggested to Philemon that he should
not only receive Onesimus but also set him free or send him to
Philem. 21 “Having confidence in your
obedience
I write to you
knowing that you will do even more than I say.”
YLT: “having been
confident in thy obedience I did write to thee
having known that also above
what I may say thou wilt do;”
Literal Meaning: “Having confidence in your
obedience
I write to you” “obedience” refers to granting the request
of Paul.
“Knowing
that you will do even more than I say”
this epistle was kept to show a fact: if the request was ignored
the epistle
must have been ruined. It shows that Philemon granted Paul’s request gladly.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Trusting the other is the best way to persuade
him.
2) Here there is a principle that one always
expects the best from others. Our greatest expectation toward men is better
than the half request. If we clearly show that the expectation is a little
what we will have will be a little.
Philem. 22 “But
meanwhile
also
prepare a guest room for me
for I trust that through your prayers I shall be
granted to you.”
YLT: “and at the same
time also prepare for me a lodging
for I hope that through your prayers I
shall be granted to you.”
Literal Meaning: “But
meanwhile
also
prepare a guest room for me” “a guest room”
refers to friendship and hearty welcome.
“For
I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you” Paul firmly believed the effect of prayers
(See Philip. 1:19).
Philem. 23 “Epaphras
my fellow
prisoner in Christ Jesus
greets you
”
YLT: “Salute thee doth
Epaphras
(my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus
)”
Literal
Meaning: “Epaphras” was a Colossian and the Lord’s worker in
the church in Colosse (See Col. 1:7; 4:12). And he must be familiar with
Philemon.
Philem. 24 “as do Mark
Aristarchus
Demas
Luke
my fellow laborers.”
YLT: “Markus
Aristarchus
Demas
Lukas
my fellow-workmen!”
Literal Meaning: “as do Mark
Aristarchus” these two ones were the Jews.
“Demas
Luke
my fellow laborers” these two ones
were Gentile believers.
Philem. 25 “The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
YLT: “The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ with your spirit! Amen.”
Literal Meaning: “The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ” “Lord Jesus Christ” is the subjective genitive and it
indicates that He is the possessor of grace; Christ is grace.
“Be
with your spirit. Amen.” “Your” in the
original is plural and “spirit” is singular.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What men need is Christ Himself and Christ’s
presence is the greatest blessing of the human race.
2) In the life of Christians
we need the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ at all times and without His grace
we are nothing and we
could do nothing.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Living out Christ
I.
Salutation------grace and peace to men (v.1-3)
II. Thanksgiving and
praise (v.4-7)
A. the way------prayer (v.4)
B. the content------love and faith
(v.5-6)
C. the result------all have been
refreshed (v.7)
III. The request in
love (v.8-20)
A. the way------appealing for love’s
sake instead of commanding (v.8-9)
B. the item------for Onesimus
whom Paul
had begotten while in his chains (v.10)
C. the reason------who once was
unprofitable
but now is profitable to you and to me (v.11)
D. the way------Paul sent him back and
hoped him to receive him (v.12)
E. the purpose------your good deed might
not be by compulsion
as it were
but voluntary (v.13-14)
F. the benefit------you might receive
him forever (v.15)
G. the request------regarding him as the
beloved brother and receiving him as you would me (v.16-17)
H. the promise------if he has wronged
you or owes anything
put that on my account. I will repay (v.18-19)
IV. Faith and hope
(v.21-22)
V. Greeting and
blessing (v.23-25)
Ideas in Christ
I. The idea of
request instead of sigh (v.1-3)
II. The idea of
praise instead of blame (v.4-7)
III. The idea of
appeal instead of commandment (v.8-12)
IV. The idea of respect
instead of selfishness (v.13-14)
V. The idea of
receiving instead of rejecting (v.15-17)
VI. The idea of
repaying instead of haggling over (v.18-19)
VII. The idea of
encouragement instead of pressure (v.20-22)
VIII. The idea of
carefulness instead of carelessness (v.23-25)
Relations in Christ
I. Brother
(v.1)------life
II. Fellow labor
(v.1
24)------service
III. Fellow soldier
(v.2)------conflict
IV. The sharing of
faith (v.6)------oneness
V. Partner
(v.17)------livelihood
VI. Fellow prisoner
(v.23)------suffering
Seeing the Wisdom of the Lord’s Workers from
This Epistle
I. Using praise to
replace blame (v.4-5)
II. Using faith to
replace criticism (v.6-7)
III. Using love to
replace commandment (v.8-9)
IV. Using appeal to
replace demand (v.10-14)
V. Using
encouragement to replace discouragement (v.15-17)
VI. Using
sacrificing oneself to replace sacrificing others (v.18-19)
VII. Using the
positive to replace the negative (v.20-21)
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren