Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
The letter containing this appeal belongs to the time of Paul's journey to Rome and his imprisonment there. Here Paul makes a tender, earnest appeal to his brother for joy in the Lord and for refreshment of spirit through the granting of his request concerning Onesimus. That appeal comes after his offer to assume whatever debt Onesimus owed, charging it to his own account.
It comes also after his reminder that Philemon owed him even his own self, since God had made Paul the instrument of Philemon's conversion. In asking Philemon to refresh his spirit, Paul recalls how Philemon had already refreshed the hearts of the saints by his generous liberality. With this appeal Paul joins a confident trust in Philemon's obedience, that he will do what is asked and even more.
The letter containing this appeal belongs to the time of Paul's journey to Rome and his imprisonment there.
Here Paul makes a tender, earnest appeal to his brother for joy in the Lord and for refreshment of spirit through the granting of his request concerning Onesimus.
That appeal comes after his offer to assume whatever debt Onesimus owed, charging it to his own account.
It comes also after his reminder that Philemon owed him even his own self, since God had made Paul the instrument of Philemon's conversion.
In asking Philemon to refresh his spirit, Paul recalls how Philemon had already refreshed the hearts of the saints by his generous liberality.
With this appeal Paul joins a confident trust in Philemon's obedience, that he will do what is asked and even more.