God’s Word Translation
Philemon 1:19
19I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life.
Philemon 1:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
- New International Version (NIV)I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
Context of Philemon 1:19
17If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life. 20So, because we’re brothers in the Lord, do something for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ. 21I am confident as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do even more than I ask.
Read all of Philemon 1Philemon 1:19 word by word
Ἐγὼ Παῦλος ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί, ἐγὼ ἀποτίσω· ἵνα μὴ λέγω σοι ὅτι καὶ σεαυτόν μοι προσοφείλεις.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- have writtenγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- with mine ownἐμόςemos · mineG1699
- handχείρcheir · handG5495
- will repayἀποτίνωapotinō · to repayG661
- albeitἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- I doλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- notμήmē · notG3361
- sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- to theeσύsu · youG4771
- howὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- thou owestπροσοφείλωprosopheilō · to owe besidesG4359
- evenκαίkai · andG2532
- thine own selfσεαυτοῦseautou seautō seauton sautou sautō sauton · yourselfG4572
Cross-references for Philemon 1:19
- 1 Corinthians 16:21I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand.
- Galatians 5:2I, Paul, can guarantee that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
- Galatians 6:11Look at how large the letters ⌞in these words⌟ are because I’m writing this myself.
- 1 Corinthians 4:15You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don’t have many ⌞spiritual⌟ fathers. I became your father in the Christian life by telling you the Good News about Christ Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 9:1Don’t you agree that I’m a free man? Don’t you agree that I’m an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord?
- 2 Corinthians 3:2You’re our letter of recommendation written in our hearts that everyone knows and reads.
- 1 Timothy 1:2To Timothy, a genuine child in faith. Good will, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord are yours!
- James 5:19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth, someone can bring that person back.
Commentaries on Philemon 1:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand - It is likely that the whole of the letter was written by St. Paul himself, which was not his usual custom. See on 2 Thessalonians 3:17; (note). But by thus speaking he bound Philemon to do what he requested, as an act of common civility, if he could not feel a higher motive from what he had already urged. Albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me - I ask thee to do this thing to oblige me, though I will…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand - It has been inferred from this, that Paul wrote this entire Epistle with his own hand, though this was contrary to his usual practice; compare the Romans 16:22 note; 1 Corinthians 16:21 note; Galatians 6:11 note. He undoubtedly meant to refer to this as a mark of special favor toward Philemon, and as furnishing security that he would certainly be bound for what he had promised. I will repay it - I will be…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 When we speak of the nature of any sin or offence against God, the evil of it is not to be lessened; but in a penitent sinner, as God covers it, so must we. Such changed characters often become a blessing to all among whom they reside. Christianity does not do away our duties to others, but directs to the right doing of them. True penitents will be open in owning their faults, as doubtless Onesimus had been to Paul, upon his being awakened…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19Paul guarantees his promise by adding his own signature. He usually dictated his letters to a secretary, but at times he wrote a short part in his own handwriting, as he does here. your very self: This means Philemon’s salvation. Philemon owed Paul far more than anything Onesimus might have owed him. It is not clear whether Paul led Philemon to faith directly or whether Philemon believed through Paul’s wider preaching (compare Colossians 1:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. with mine own hand--not employing an amanuensis, as in other Epistles: a special compliment to Philemon which he ought to show his appreciation of by granting Paul's request. Contrast Col 4:18, which shows that the Epistle to the Colossian Church, accompanying this Epistle, had only its closing "salutation" written by Paul's own hand. albeit, &c.--literally, "that I may not say ... not to say," &c. thou owest ... even thine own self--not merely thy…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philemon 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries