Philemon 1:19 kjv
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.
Philemon 1:19 nkjv
I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay?not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
Philemon 1:19 niv
I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back?not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Philemon 1:19 esv
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it ? to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
Philemon 1:19 nlt
I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON'T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!
Philemon 1 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Phlm 1:18 | If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. | Paul's commitment to pay debt for Onesimus. |
| Col 4:18 | I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. | Paul authenticates letters with his own hand. |
| 2 Thess 3:17 | I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign in every letter. | Paul's practice of authenticating his letters. |
| 1 Cor 16:21 | I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. | Another instance of Paul's personal signature. |
| Php 2:5-8 | Christ Jesus... emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant... humbled himself | Christ's willingness to take on our burden. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might... | Christ bears our sin-debt (imputation). |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin... | Jesus bears the weight of human sin. |
| Isa 53:4-6 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows... | The Suffering Servant (Christ) bears our burdens. |
| Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died... | God's costly love for sinners. |
| Gal 6:2 | Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Principle of sharing burdens among believers. |
| Prov 11:15 | Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but one who hates pledges is secure. | Principle of being a surety. |
| Prov 17:18 | One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. | Wisdom about being a surety (contrast Paul). |
| Heb 7:22 | This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. | Jesus as the ultimate guarantor for believers. |
| Col 3:13 | Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving... | Call for forgiveness among believers. |
| Eph 4:32 | Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. | Forgiveness mirroring God's forgiveness. |
| Mt 6:14-15 | For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive... | The necessity of forgiving others. |
| Lk 6:37 | Forgive, and you will be forgiven. | Principle of forgiveness leading to forgiveness. |
| Rom 1:14 | I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. | Paul's sense of spiritual indebtedness to preach. |
| 1 Cor 9:19 | For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all... | Paul's willingness to serve others for the Gospel. |
| Rom 15:27 | For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also... | Gentiles indebted to Jews for spiritual truth. |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us... | Paul's role as an ambassador making appeals. |
| Phlm 1:8-9 | Accordingly, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you... yet for love's sake... | Paul's appeal based on love, not command. |
Philemon 1 verses
Philemon 1 19 Meaning
Philemon 1:19 sees the Apostle Paul personally taking financial responsibility for any debt or loss incurred by Onesimus to his master Philemon. Paul declares his intention to repay this amount, further reinforcing his earnest plea for Onesimus's full reconciliation and acceptance. Subtly, yet powerfully, Paul reminds Philemon that his own spiritual life and conversion were due to Paul's ministry, implying Philemon's much greater spiritual indebtedness to Paul far surpasses any material debt Onesimus might have caused. This acts as a gentle but firm persuasion, highlighting the profound Christian obligation of grace and forgiveness.
Philemon 1 19 Context
The letter to Philemon is a deeply personal appeal from the Apostle Paul, imprisoned, to Philemon, a wealthy Christian believer and host of a house church in Colossae. The central issue is Onesimus, Philemon's runaway slave, who had encountered Paul and become a Christian during Paul's imprisonment. Onesimus, previously "useless" (Phlm 1:11), was now "useful" as a brother in Christ to both Paul and Philemon. Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon, appealing for his acceptance not merely as a returning slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ. Paul’s strategy involves gentle persuasion based on love, brotherhood, and shared faith rather than apostolic authority. Within this tender appeal, Philemon 1:19 serves as a crucial strategic move: Paul removes any financial impediment Philemon might perceive regarding Onesimus's return by personally guaranteeing to cover any costs or damages. This gesture of self-sacrifice clears the path for Philemon to respond to the higher spiritual principles of reconciliation and grace.
Philemon 1 19 Word analysis
- I, Paul,: (ἐγὼ Παῦλος - egō Paulos) An emphatic use of the pronoun and name, signaling that Paul himself, the apostle, is personally affirming and guaranteeing the statement. It's a hallmark of Paul authenticating his letters, adding weight and sincerity to the promise.
- have written it: (ἔγραψα - egrapsa) Aorist active indicative. This signifies a completed past action: "I myself did write it." This specific action of writing confirms the authenticity and serious nature of the promise, suggesting Paul either took the pen at this point or wrote the entire letter himself to authenticate its contents and personal pledge.
- with my own hand: (τῇ ἰδίᾳ χειρί - tē idia cheiri) The Greek `idia` emphasizes "own," stressing that Paul's actual hand, not a scribe's, physically penned these words. This phrase underscores the direct, personal commitment and signature, giving the preceding promise the weight of a legally binding contract in that culture.
- I will repay it—: (ἐγὼ ἀποτίσω - egō apotisō) The verb `apotinō` means "to pay back" or "to recompense." The future tense indicates a firm promise of payment. This is Paul's explicit declaration that he will personally settle any debt or compensate Philemon for any loss or damage Onesimus may have caused (whether from theft, lost work, or the cost of the pursuit). This act foreshadows Christ taking on the believer's sin-debt.
- to say nothing of your owing me even your own self: A rhetorical, parenthetical expression, delicately introducing Philemon's far greater spiritual debt to Paul. It serves as a gentle but potent reminder of the life-transforming Gospel Paul brought to Philemon, which implicitly carries a reciprocal obligation to show the same grace received. Philemon likely owed his conversion, or significant spiritual guidance, to Paul's ministry. This debt (of Philemon's very salvation or Christian life) is infinitely greater than any material debt Onesimus might owe, serving to encourage Philemon to act mercifully.
Philemon 1 19 Bonus section
Paul’s pledge in this verse transcends a simple financial transaction. It's an application of the imputation principle where one’s debt is attributed to another for payment. This living out of the Gospel's truth, while not explicitly forming doctrine here, vividly portrays how believers are to embody the spirit of Christ's substitutionary work. Paul's act not only covers a financial debt but models how Christians are to reconcile, restore, and prioritize relational redemption above personal loss. It showcases the immense weight of "love for Christ" in motivating sacrificial acts, making Philemon's response a reflection of his own walk with God.
Philemon 1 19 Commentary
Philemon 1:19 is the emotional and ethical crescendo of Paul’s appeal, powerfully revealing Christian intercession and the transformative impact of the Gospel on relationships. By personally assuming Onesimus’s financial liability, Paul enacts a principle foundational to the Christian faith: substitution. This gesture echoes Christ bearing humanity's sin-debt, removing a practical barrier to reconciliation between master and slave, allowing grace to flourish. The subtle yet potent reminder of Philemon's spiritual debt to Paul elevates the plea beyond mere command or societal custom, appealing to a profound sense of gospel obligation. This verse not only resolves a potential conflict point but also challenges Philemon to respond with the same self-giving love and forgiveness he himself received, fostering an understanding that brotherhood in Christ transcends worldly status or debt.