“If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;”
If he has wronged you in anything or owes you anything, charge it to my account — the acknowledgment of Onesimus's possible debts (ei ti edelikēn — if he wronged you) respects Philemon's legitimate grievance; the slave's flight may have caused financial loss. But Paul assumes the liability (anangellan — charge to account), placing his credit (lōgos) before Philemon. The substitution is Christological — Paul steps into the debtor's place, canceling the sentence through personal assumption of the obligation.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a note on this verse
YT
Yuki TanakaNote1mo agoThe meaning of sacrifice - Philemon 1
The imagery here is agricultural - the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. What...
1
CR
Carlos RiveraNote1mo agoPut It on My Account
Paul's offering to cover Onesimus's debt. He's not excusing the wrong - he's bearing the cost of restoration. That's exactly what Jesus did for us.
I've been thinking about what it means for me to do...
1