Philemon 15-16

Philemon 15-16 King James Version (KJV)



15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?




Philemon 15-16 New Matthew Bible (NMB)



15 Perhaps he therefore departed for a season so that you would receive him forever, 16 not now as a servant, but above a servant; I mean a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and also in the Lord.



New Matthew Bible (NMB) Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). All rights reserved.



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15-16 Paul lets him know that his servant leaving was for the best because now he has changed and will never run again once he returns but Paul is asking that he not return just quiet yet because Paul needs his help. This is also a reference to him now being a believer and how they all would be in eternity together, this doesn’t mean he would still be a servant in heaven but means that he now was his brother and that bound wouldn’t ever be broken. They now would have a greater relationship; he would be a better servant now because he now served the Lord first as a fellow believer. He wasn’t free from being a servant now that he was come to Jesus but had more of us a reason to live for the role he was called into. We have more reason when we have Jesus because we are to live for Him.