John Calvin Commentary Philemon 1:20

"Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ." — Philemon 1:20 (ASV)

Yea, brother. This affirmation is used to increase the intensity of the exhortation, as if he had said, “Now it will be clearly proven that there has been no disagreement between you and me, but that, on the contrary, you are sincerely attached to me, and that all that you had is at my disposal, if you pardon offenses and receive into favor him who is so closely related to me.”

Refresh my bowels in the Lord. He again repeats the same form of expressions which he had previously employed.

From this, we infer that the faith of the gospel does not overturn civil government or set aside the power and authority that masters have over slaves. For Philemon was not a man of ordinary rank, but a fellow worker of Paul in cultivating Christ’s vineyard. Yet, the power over a slave, which was permitted by the law, is not taken away. He is only commanded to receive him kindly by granting forgiveness and is even humbly entreated by Paul to restore him to his former condition.

When Paul pleads so humbly on behalf of another, we are reminded how far those who obstinately excuse their vices are from true repentance—or those who, without shame and without signs of humility, acknowledge indeed that they have sinned, but in such a manner as if they had never sinned.

When Onesimus saw so distinguished an apostle of Christ plead so eagerly on his behalf, he must undoubtedly have been much more humbled, so that he might incline his master’s heart to be merciful to him. The excuse Paul offers for writing so boldly (Philemon 1:21) is to the same purpose: he knew that Philemon would do more than he had been requested.