Philemon 1:12

“Whom I have sent again, &c.] From Rome to Colosse, or to Philemon, wherever he was, along with this epistle: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels; meaning his son, who, in a spiritual sense, came out of his bowels, to whom he stood in the relation of a spiritual father; so the Syriac version renders it, as my son, so receive him; (see <011504>Genesis 15:4 <101611>2 Samuel 16:11) and for whom he had a most strong affection, and tender regard; his bowels yearned for him, and he suggests by this expression, that should he reject him, it would give him the utmost pain and uneasiness; and he should be obliged to cry out as the Prophet Jeremy did, “my bowels, my bowels, I am pained…”

“mine own bowels--as dear to me as my own heart [ALFORD]. Compare Plm 1:17, "as myself." The object of my most intense affection as that of a parent for a child.”

“Whom I have sent again - That is, to Philemon. This was, doubtless, at his own request, for: (1) There is not the slightest evidence that he compelled him, or even urged him to go. The language is just such as would have been used on the supposition either that he requested him to go and bear a letter to Colosse, or that Onesimus desired to go, and that Paul sent him agreeably to his request; compare Philippians 2:25. “Yet I suppose it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother, and companion in labor,” etc.; Colossians 4:7-8. “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: whom I have sent unto you for…”

“Receive him, that is, my own bowels - Whom I love as my own soul. Such is the natural affection of a father in Christ toward his spiritual children. Philemon 1:13”

“thou: Mat 6:14, Mat 6:15, Mat 18:21-35; Mar 11:25; Eph 4:32 mine: Deu 13:6; Sa2 16:11; Jer 31:20; Luk 15:20 Philemon 1:13”