Philemon 1:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why does he place Luke last, whereas elsewhere he says, “Only Luke is with me,” and says that Demas was one of those who forsook him and loved this present age (2 Tim 4:10)?

This has, to be sure, already been said elsewhere, but here also it should neither be left unexamined nor heard simply and without discernment.

Why then does he say that the one who forsook him greets them?

“Erastus,” as he says, “remained in Corinth” (2 Tim 4:20).

He brings forward Epaphras as one known to them and from that place, and Mark as a wondrous man.

But why does he number Demas with them? Perhaps this man lost heart only later, when he saw many dangers.

And Luke, who had been last, became first.

The Apostle greets Philemon also in their name, so as more quickly to incline him to obedience.

He calls them his fellow workers, so that in this way he might more strongly persuade him to fulfill the request.

Demas at first enjoyed respect, as is testified of him here, as a fellow worker of Paul.

Afterward, through frivolity, he fell away from Paul, as Paul indeed writes about this in the Epistle to Timothy, which was evidently written after this epistle.

“For Demas has forsaken me; Luke alone is with me” (2 Tim 4:10).

Thus Luke, placed here last, became first of all when Demas fell away.

Therefore no one should trust in himself. Whoever stands must take heed lest he fall.

By saying “fellow worker,” he shows that they too ask you together with me, and it is fitting to give favorable attention to such persons.

Do you see what benefit we have received from this epistle, which seems brief and not to require explanation?

The Apostle mentions Epaphras here because he too was a Colossian. For Paul wrote thus to the Colossians: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Jesus Christ, greets you” (Col 4:12).

He placed Demas before Luke as being known to all and as a fellow worker. For only after this did he abandon the Apostle, having loved this present age.

IV. In conclusion (Phlm 20-21), St. Paul gives instructions that Philemon prepare lodging for him, because the Apostle expresses hope for a swift release from his Roman imprisonment.

The epistle ends with farewell greetings from Epaphras, Paul’s fellow prisoner, and also from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, Paul’s fellow workers, together with Paul’s own wish for the Lord’s grace.

The greetings to Philemon from those around Paul, and Paul’s prayerful good wish for him, fully correspond to the usual postscripts of Paul’s epistles.

They correspond in particular to the information about the persons generally surrounding the Apostle in Rome, as is clear from the Epistle to the Colossians and others.

According to St. John Chrysostom’s explanation, the Apostle greets Philemon in the name of those with him, so as more quickly to incline him to obedience.

He calls them his fellow workers, so that in this way he might more strongly persuade him to fulfill the request.

Paul calls Epaphras a fellow prisoner, expressing that he too was in great affliction.

Thus, if not for the Apostle himself, then for this man the request ought to be heard.

Concerning all the other persons, the Apostle said that they were his co-workers.

They labored with him in the Gospel and did for him everything that he himself could not do because of his chains.

The reminder of them could not remain without influence upon the aim of the epistle.

Before Philemon’s face, they too now appeared as intercessors for Onesimus.

St. Chrysostom says: “The Apostle greets Philemon also in their name, so as more quickly to incline him to obedience.

He calls them his fellow workers, so that in this way he might more strongly persuade him to fulfill the request.”

He speaks to him as though saying: “These also ask you together with me, and it is fitting to give favorable attention to such persons and satisfy their desire” (Theophylact).