Philemon 1:13

Whom I would have retained with me,.... At Rome, where the apostle was a prisoner:

that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel; the apostle was in bonds, not for…

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead - “That he might render me the service which I know you would if you were here.” The Greek is: “for thee” ὑπὲρ σοῦ huper sou; that is, what he…

That in thy stead he might have ministered unto me - As Philemon was one of Paul's converts, he became thereby his spiritual father, and had a right to his services when in need. This was a strong…

We have here,

I. The main business of the epistle, which was to plead with Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, that he would receive him and be reconciled to him. Many arguments Paul urges for this…

I would Lit., "I was wishing" ;the imperfect indicates a half-purpose, stopped by other considerations. Lightfoot compares for similar imperfects Rom 9:3; Gal 4:20.

me Lit., myself.

in thy stead On…