9a

I prefer: The phrase I prefer indicates that Paul wanted to appeal to Philemon on the basis of love instead of ordering him what to do.

to appeal: Paul was asking Philemon to do something. This was not the same as telling him to do it. And he was not asking a question.

on the basis of love: Rather than ordering Philemon to obey a command, Paul wanted Philemon to help Onesimus because of love. But it is not clear who loved whom. There are three interpretations:

(1) Philemon should do what Paul wanted simply because he loved Paul.

(2) Philemon should do what he ought to do, not because of a command, but because he loved all of God’s people.

(3) Paul did not use his authority to tell Philemon what to do. The reason was: Paul loved Philemon. Good News Translation follows this third interpretation.

All three interpretations are possible, and perhaps Paul was thinking about all these meanings when he wrote this passage. But the first interpretation seems most likely because of the following words in 9b. Verse part 9b implies that Philemon should show that he was thankful to Paul, an old man in prison. And he also should be thankful for Paul helping him to trust in Christ.

9b

I, Paul: Paul was giving reasons why Philemon should agree to do what Paul asked him to do. For example:

• He was Philemon’s friend, Paul.

• He was an old man.

• He was suffering because he trusted in Christ.

am now aged: The Greek word presbutēs has two possible meanings in this verse:

(1) “old man” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Jerusalem Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004), King James Version)

(2) “ambassador,” a man who speaks for important people (Good News Translation, New English Bible, Revised Standard Version)

The phrase am now aged probably represents the right meaning in this verse because Paul had just said that he was not giving an order to Philemon, as a man of authority (verse 8) would do. Paul, as an aged man in prison for Christ (verse 9), was appealing to Philemon.

a prisoner: See notes on verse 1a.

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