Colossians 4:9

4:9 I sent him ¹  with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. ²  They will tell ³  you about everything here.

Philemon 1:16

1:16 no longer as a slave, ⁴  but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking ⁵  and in the Lord.

Philemon 1:2

1:2 to Apphia ⁶  our sister, ⁷  to Archippus our ⁸  fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.

Philemon 1:15

1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, ⁹ 

[4:9]  ¹ tn The Greek sentence continues v. 9 with the phrase “with Onesimus,” but this is awkward in English, so the verb “I sent” was inserted and a new sentence started at the beginning of v. 9 in the translation.

[4:9]  ² tn Grk “is of you.”

[4:9]  ³ tn Grk “will make known to you.” This has been simplified in the translation to “will tell.”

[1:16]  ⁴ tn Although the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos) is sometimes translated “servant” here (so KJV), the word “slave” is a much more candid and realistic picture of the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus. In the Greco-Roman world of the 1st century the slave was considered a “living tool” of the master. The slave was “property” in every sense of the word. This understanding heightens the tense scenario that is in view here. It is likely that Onesimus may have even feared for his life upon returning to Colossae. Undoubtedly Paul has asked this runaway slave to return to what could amount to a potentially severe and life-endangering situation.

[1:16]  ⁵ tn Grk “in the flesh.”

[1:2]  ⁶ sn Apphia is thought to be the wife of Philemon.

[1:2]  ⁷ tc Most witnesses (D² Ψ Ï) here read τῇ ἀγαπητῇ (th agaphth, “beloved, dear”), a reading that appears to have been motivated by the masculine form of the same adjective in v. 1. Further, the earliest and best witnesses, along with a few others (א A D* F G I P 048 0278 33 81 104 1739 1881 pc), have ἀδελφῇ (adelfh, “sister”). Thus on internal and external grounds, ἀδελφῇ is the strongly preferred reading.

[1:2]  ⁸ tn Though the term “our” does not appear in the Greek text it is inserted to bring out the sense of the passage.

[1:15]  ⁹ sn So that you would have him back eternally. The notion here is not that Onesimus was to be the slave of Philemon eternally, but that their new relationship as brothers in Christ would transcend the societal structures of this age. The occasion of Onesimus’ flight to Rome would ultimately be a catalyst in the formation of a new and stronger bond between these two men.