Timothy to Hebrews - The Preterist Archive

270 Philemon, 22-24.
presupposed in the letter. He requests, not because he fears that
his comniund would be unavailing, but because he knows it is unnecessary.
Nay, he knows and is convinced that Philemon will do
beyond what he asks. If vntp o Atyw refers to emancipation, then
it cannot have been involved in the previous request ;
those who regard
it as thus previously involved (as De Wette), must refer this
to still additional benefactions. But the words may be understood,
without any such specific reference, of increased kindness toward
Ouesimus.
Ver. 22.—The apostle subjoins to this the request that he would
prepare for him entertainment, as he hopes to be " granted" to them.
"A^ua di: Kai presupposes the undoubted fulfilment of his previous entreaty.
It is conjectured, perhaps not erroneously, that this request
thus immediately subjoined, or rather the promise which it involves,
is intended, as a confirmation of love on his part, to supjjort and
enforce that entreaty. As to the hope here expressed by the apostle,
comp. Phil. i. 25, ii. 24 ;
" Through your prayers," he presupposes
in them their prayer for his deliverance (oomp. Col. iv. 3, scq,;
Eph. vi. 19), and attaches great importance to their prayers, as he
ascribes to them his freedom ; which with him is assuredl}' not a mero
phrase. Comp. Rom. xv. 30 ; 2 Cor. i. 11 ;
Phil. i. 19, etc. How
closely was the apostle connected with his churches by prayer which
he oftered perpetually for them and they for him ! How widely
removed are we from this pattern of the apostolic age ! How feeble
with us the tie which connects teachers and scholars ! On ,t«p'cr-
0//(7o/iai, to be granted as a matter of favour, an expression frequent
with the apostle, also in the Pass., comp. for this passage specially
Acts iii. 14, xxvii. 24.
Vers. 23, 24.—The Salutations. Read doirdserai, singular.
Those who send salutations are the same as Col. iv. 10-14 ; except
that Jesus Justus, there named, is here past over. Why, is uncertain
; comp., however, Wieseler, p. 417, Anm. Epaphras (on his
relation to Epaphroditus, Phil. ii. 25, comp. in loco), is designated
here as ovvaLxm>MTo^j on the contrary. Col. iv. 10, Aristarchus. It
is probable, as Meyer remarks at Col. iv. 10, and Wieseler, p. 417,
seq., that the expression denotes not compulsory, but voluntary imprisonment,
thus referring to Paul's companions, who alternately
remained with him in his guarded dwelling, and that Epaphras no\y,
Aristarchus bef ire, was performing this service of love. Meyer also remarks
th;it nviaixji(iXu)~o^j used only of ])risoners of war, designates
the apostli", like avarpancoT?]^, as a soldier of Christ. 'Kv Xpiaru
^l7]oov expresses more than the genitive ; to wit, that he shares the
ajuiKtle's imprisotunent not merely in the cause of Christ, but in a
Christian way ; comp. Harlesa at Eph. iv. 1.