Paul's unusual word prepares his appeal

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Oecumenius begins his comment on Philemon 1:1 by explaining a general habit of Paul's letters, then applies it to the present case of Onesimus.

In many letters Paul places a strange word that prepares for the argument he is about to introduce. Here too, since he was about to make a request on behalf of Onesimus, he shows the credibility of the appeal by his own worth—and his worth is the imprisonment.

Greek

Phm 1,1 Ἐν πολλαῖς ἐπιστολαῖς ξένον τίθησι ῥῆμα τοῦ μέλλοντος εἰσάγεσθαι λόγου κατασκευαστικόν, καὶ νῦν ἐπειδὴ ἔμελλεν ἀξιοῦν ὑπὲρ Ὀνησίμου τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἀξίᾳ– ἀξία δὲ αὐτοῦ τὸ δεδέσθαι–, τὸ ἀξιόπιστον τῆς παρακλήσεως δείκνυσιν.

About this text

A few lines on the opening of Philemon: Paul names his chains first to give weight to his request for Onesimus.

Oecumenius wrote this fragment on the Letter to Philemon. It explains why Paul introduces his appeal for Onesimus by mentioning his own imprisonment.

The fragment comments on Philemon 1:1. Oecumenius observes that in many letters Paul places an unusual word that prepares for the argument he is about to introduce. Here, because Paul was about to make a request on behalf of Onesimus, he shows the credibility of his appeal by appealing to his own worth. That worth consists in his being in chains.

A reader will meet Onesimus, the person on whose behalf Paul is about to make a request. The key terms are rendered as worth, imprisonment, appeal, and credibility. Worth refers to Paul's worth, which consists in his being in chains. Imprisonment refers to Paul's being in chains, presented as the ground of his worth. Appeal refers to Paul's appeal or request on behalf of Onesimus. Credibility refers to the credibility or trustworthiness of Paul's appeal.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 118 – 119 (Greek)

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