Philemon 1:19
I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
The letter belongs to the time of Paul's coming to Rome as a prisoner and his reception by the Christians in Italy.
Onesimus was a pagan slave who had wronged his master Philemon, a Christian believer in Colosse, by taking from him and then escaping to Rome.
There Paul relieved his poverty and distress, taught him the truth, and led him to confess his sins and be converted to Christ.
He endeared himself to Paul by his piety and sincerity, his tender care for Paul's comfort, and his zeal for the gospel, showing traits that would make him a useful helper in missionary labor.
Paul counseled Onesimus to return to Philemon without delay to beg forgiveness and plan for the future.
He sent him back with Tychicus, who was carrying letters to the churches in Asia Minor.
Returning to face the master he had wronged was a severe test that proved his conversion was genuine because he did not turn aside from duty.
With his own hand Paul personally guarantees and pledges to hold himself responsible to repay whatever Onesimus owed, including the sum he had taken.
This was done so that Onesimus could be spared punishment and restored to his former privileges.
In the same verse Paul reminds Philemon that Philemon owes Paul even his own self in a special sense because God made Paul the instrument of his conversion.
The pledge combined with the reminder is a tender, earnest appeal to Philemon's gratitude to welcome Onesimus and thereby refresh Paul's spirit.
As Philemon by his liberalities has refreshed the saints, so Paul asks him to grant this cause of rejoicing and joy.
The pledge fittingly illustrates Christ's love for the repentant sinner.
As the servant had defrauded his master and had nothing with which to make restitution, the sinner has robbed God of years of service owed to Him and has no means to repay or cancel the debt.
So Jesus interposes between the sinner and God and His just wrath, saying He will pay the debt.
He asks that the sinner be spared, and suffers in the sinner's place and stead so the sinner may be spared punishment.