Here Paul takes the stylus and writes these words himself (see Col 4.18). The aorist tense of the verb “to write” is another instance of the epistolary aorist (see verse 12). Only here in the NT does the verb apotinō “to repay” occur.

I will write this with my own hand may be expressed as “I myself am writing the following words.” In some languages, with my own hand is expressed “with my own fingers” or even “with my own arm.” It is important to use the expression which is most in keeping with receptor-language usage.

I, Paul, will pay you back may be rendered as “I, Paul, will pay you.” A literal rendering of “pay back” might suggest that this was a debt which Paul himself had incurred and not on behalf of Onesimus. It may be necessary to refer to what is to be paid as, “I will pay you whatever is owed” or “I will pay you all that money.”

Then Paul adds, almost as an afterthought, a reminder to Philemon: “I am now indebted to you; but don’t forget that your debt to me is much greater—you owe me you very self.” Paul is referring to the fact that he had been instrumental in Philemon’s conversion, so that Philemon owes his spiritual life to Paul.

The phrase translated I should not have to remind you is used also in 2 Cor 9.4. It may be expressed as “surely it is not necessary for me to mention to you” or “… to tell you.”

The verb owe in this verse translates the compound prosopheilō which occurs only here in the NT; the simple opheilō is used in verse 18. It may be rather difficult to speak of “owing oneself.” The Good News Translation rendering that you owe your very self to me may, however, be restructured as “you are in debt to me for life.” But a literal rendering of “for your life” might suggest that Paul himself had at one time rescued Philemon from death. It may, therefore, be essential to indicate precisely what is involved, for example, “you are in debt to me for your new life through Christ” or “… for your life as a Christian.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .