Epistola ad Philemonem
by Anselm of Laon and his school
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://migne.app/pl/114/epistola-ad-philemonem/
----------------------------------------

## THE ARGUMENT.

[0641B]

He makes a familiar letter to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus his slave, writing to him from the city of Rome, out of prison, by the aforesaid Onesimus.

## THE ONLY CHAPTER.

VERS. 1.-- *Paul a prisoner.* He does not say, *An apostle:* which is a name of dignity, but *a prisoner,* which is a name of humility: because he does not command, but entreats. For here there is an intercession on behalf of Onesimus: therefore he calls to mind the things which belong to humility, beginning from his own injury, so that he might give dignity to his own Epistle. For as to be bound [0641C] by reason of sin is a reproach, so on the contrary to endure the bonds of custody for Christ is the greatest glory. At that time, therefore, he was in custody. Therefore he says that he is a prisoner.

VERS. 5.-- *Which thou hast.* For because he believed in Christ and loved him; he believed the saints and loved them, and thus through the works of faith and charity he served Christ and the saints.

VERS. 6.-- *That the communication.* As if he should say: Thou hast faith and charity in Christ and in the saints, so that *the communication of thy faith may be made evident,* that is, that thy faith be communicating with our faith; or, that what thou communicatest to others out of thy faith may be evident. And this, *In the acknowledgment of all.* That is, let it be so evident, let all good hereby be deservedly known to be in thee through Christ, that is, the sufficiency of all [0641D] good things. As thus: I am mindful of thee, and I give thanks in the prayers held concerning this, that *the communication of thy faith,* that is, the working of faith by which thou servest Christ and the saints, *may be made evident in the acknowledgment which is. In Christ Jesus.* [var: Vulg. *in agnitione omnis operis boni, quod est in vobis in Christo Iesu*, "of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus"] That is, with the knowledge of the eternal good, that it may be looked for as a reward. For this the Apostle prays, that that man's working may be done with the knowledge of goodness, that is, that he may work with such a mind that from it he may look for Jesus Christ as a reward in the time to come, and not the recompense of temporal things.

VERS. 7.-- *The bowels of the saints.* That is, the most beloved sons of the saints, or, the affection of the saints, inclined toward thee, has rested in thee, thee namely consoling, and has been refreshed, because they have found thee good in all things.

VERS. 10.-- *I beseech thee.* It is a great thing, not in the case of a lowly man, [0642B] but of an exalted one, if he bows himself and beseeches. *An old man.* One ought the more to comply with an old man, by the likeness of age.

VERS. 11.-- *Who was once to thee,* etc. [n: (CHRYS.)] See how prudently he confesses the fault of that very man, namely of Onesimus, that by that very thing he may extinguish the master's anger; he does not say: Now he will be useful to thee, lest that man should not believe it, but he brought in his own person as well, that from this that man might be able the more worthily to hope for better things. For if he is going to be useful to Paul, who exacts so great a diligence of virtue and of perfection, how much more to his master.

VERS. 12.-- *As my own bowels,* etc. The Apostle, while he was in custody, baptized Onesimus, a fugitive [0642C] running back to the divine help, seeing in him the hope of usefulness: whom he so commends that he signifies that his own soul is received in him.

VERS. 15.-- *For perhaps.* He therefore says *perhaps,* because human things are doubtful, and there could have been another cause why God so disposed it.

VERS. 16.-- *Most of all to me.* To me, thy teacher: the brother Onesimus, his own master having been offended, fled for refuge to the Apostle to this end, that, his sins being blotted out, he might return useful, so far that he might be made not only equal in merits to his own master, but a brother to the teacher himself. And lest Philemon (because he is master) should be puffed up against the slave, he humbles him, saying: *A brother also in the flesh,* because all are from one Adam, and *in the Lord* through faith.

[0642D]VERS. 18.-- *Impute this to me.* Now he tears away every excuse, when he says that it must be imputed to himself, if he has either done harm or owes anything.

*So brother may I enjoy thee in the Lord.* That is, I shall rejoice over thee in the kingdom of God, if thou shalt do what I ask. And what that is, he subjoins: *Refresh the bowels,* etc.

*Trusting in obedience.* He provokes him by coaxing him thus, so that he may not do more than is asked of him [cj: *non amplius*; read *amplius*, "that he may do more than is asked"]. For it is wont to happen that he who sees himself well thought of shows himself the better.

VERS. 22.-- *But at the same time.* That he may make him more solicitous, and readier to obey, he signifies that he will come to him: because even this can move him to pardon. For the absent are wont to be despised.
