The address and salutation.
This strictly private letter, which has been well called "the polite Epistle," carries upon the face of it a clear explanation of its contents.
I. THE WRITER OF THE EPISTLE. "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ." He does not describe himself as an apostle, for there was no need here to assert his authority, but as a prisoner, to bespeak the sympathy of Philemon. He was not a prisoner for crime, but for the cause of Christ, and therefore "not ashamed of his chain." Several of his weightiest Epistles were written in prison, as if to show that "the Word of God was not bound." He associates with himself in the address, but with a separate title, the name of "Timothy our brother," who was known to the Colossians (Colossians 1:1), and now in sympathy with himself respecting the object of this Epistle.
II. THE PERSONS TO WHOM THE EPISTLE WAS ADDRESSED.
1. "Unto Philemon our beloved, and fellow-worker."
2. "Apphia our sister." This name occurs in many Phrygian inscriptions.
3. "Archippus our fellow-soldier."
4. "The Church in thy house." This does not mean merely the private family of Philemon, though the object of the Epistle has the look of being a matter of strictly private concernment; but the assembly of Christians who met for worship under Philemon's roof. The restoration of Onesimus to his home under new relations would be a matter of profound interest and significance to the whole Church at Colossae.
III. THE SALUTATION. "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (see homiletical hints on Ephesians 1:2).—T.C.