https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Phlm/Philemons-Relationship
this is a useful resource/commentary to this letter. It helped me round out what was happening and the possible motivation for Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love.
I try to live/work by this mindset. People are much more likely to go the extra mile for you if you build a personal relationship with them, than if you dictate orders to them based on your rank or level.
tp
9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
ReplyDeleteI see Paul copying what he has learned from Jesus. Jesus wants us to let him into our hearts, he has the power to do anything but he let's us have the free will to choose him. He has done the ultimate for us to demonstrate his love for us and intern is waiting for us to reciprocate by showing our love for him.
side note, I'm always amazed how much longer the human explanation for God's word is than God's word. I read the resource you shared--or at least skimmed it. I was helpful, just made me laugh how long it was.
knut