John Calvin Commentary Philemon 1:19

"I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides." — Philemon 1:19 (ASV)

Not to tell you that you owe to me yourself. By this expression he intended to describe how confidently he believes that he will obtain it, as if he had said, “There is nothing that you could refuse to give me, even though I should demand yourself.” To the same purpose is what follows about lodging and other matters, as we shall immediately see.

There remains one question. How does Paul — who, if he had not been aided by the churches, had not the means of living sparingly and frugally — promise to pay money? Amidst such poverty and want, this does certainly appear to be a ridiculous promise.

But it is easy to see that, by this form of expression, Paul beseeches Philemon not to ask anything back from his slave. Though he does not speak ironically, yet, by an indirect figure, he requests him to blot out and cancel this account. The meaning, therefore, is — “I wish that you should not contend with your slave, unless you choose to have me for your debtor in his stead.” For he immediately adds that Philemon is altogether his own; and he who claims the whole man as his property, need not give himself uneasiness about paying money.