Photius of Constantinople (c. 810–c. 893) wrote this brief comment on Philemon 1:1.
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Contents 1 passage 1 Paul's unusual word prepares his appeal Author Photius of Constantinople (c. 810–c. 893 AD) — Patriarch of Constantinople in the ninth century and one of the great scholars of Byzantium. His Bibliotheca summarises hundreds of books, many of which are otherwise lost.
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About this text Photius in a few lines on the opening of Philemon: Paul puts his chains first so that his request for Onesimus carries weight.
Photius observes that in many letters Paul places an unusual word at the opening to prepare for the argument he is about to introduce. Here Paul intends to make a request on behalf of Onesimus, so he grounds that request in his own standing, which consists in being in chains.
A reader will meet Paul as the one making the appeal and Onesimus as the person on whose behalf Paul makes it. To follow the comment, a reader should know that the unusual word is preparatory, that Paul's standing is his imprisonment, and that the appeal is his request for Onesimus. The passage under discussion is Philemon 1:1.
Printed text used
Translated from PG 101 – 104 This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.
Paul's unusual word prepares his appeal §1 Photius is commenting on Philemon 1:1, explaining how Paul's opening word prepares for his request on behalf of Onesimus.
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1 In many letters Paul places an unusual word as preparation for the argument he is about to introduce. Here too, since he was about to make a request on behalf of Onesimus, he does so on the basis of his own standing—and his standing is being in chains. In this way he shows the credibility of his appeal.
Greek · §1 The Greek is on each section page: §1
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