Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
Philemon 1-7 1. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 1. Paulus vinctus Christi Iesu et Timotheus frater Philemoni amico et cooperario nostro, 2. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 2. Et Apphiae dilectae, et Archippo commilitoni nostro, et Ecclesiae, quae domi tuae est. 3.
I. In the first two verses of the preface we have the persons from and to whom it is written, with some annexed note or title, implying somewhat of argument to the purpose of the letter. 1. The persons writing: Paul, the principal, who calls himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, that is, for Jesus Christ.
Commenting on Philemon 1:1-7
EPISTLE OF PAUL TO PHILEMON. INTRODUCTION. I.--THE HISTORY OF PHILEMON. OF PHILEMON, to whom this epistle was addressed, almost nothing more is known than can be ascertained from the epistle itself. It is short, and of a private character; but it is a bright and beautiful gem in the volume of inspiration.