John Calvin Commentary Philemon 1:1

"Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker," — Philemon 1:1 (ASV)

The exceptional loftiness of Paul's mind, though it may be seen more clearly in his other writings which deal with more significant matters, is also demonstrated by this Epistle. In it, while he handles a subject otherwise lowly and common, he rises to God with his customary elevation.

Sending back a runaway slave and thief, he pleads for pardon for him. But in pleading this cause, he speaks about Christian forbearance with such ability that he appears to be discussing the interests of the whole Church rather than the private affairs of a single individual. On behalf of a man of the lowest condition, he humbles himself so modestly and humbly that nowhere else is the gentleness of his character portrayed more vividly.

A prisoner of Jesus Christ. In the same sense in which he elsewhere calls himself an Apostle of Christ or a minister of Christ, he now calls himself a prisoner of Christ. This is because the chains by which he was bound on account of the gospel were the ornaments or badges of that ambassadorship which he carried out for Christ.

Therefore, he mentions them to strengthen his authority. This was not because he was afraid of being despised (for Philemon undoubtedly had such great reverence and esteem for him that there was no need of assuming any title), but because he was about to plead the cause of a runaway slave, the main part of which was a plea for forgiveness.

To Philemon our friend and fellow-laborer. It is probable that this Philemon was a pastor, for the title with which Paul honors him, when he calls him fellow-laborer, is a title he is not accustomed to give to a private individual.