The Epistle written to Titus
Paul, a servant of God, .... So James styles himself, James 1:1 and others of the apostles, as Peter and Jude, call themselves the servants of Jesus Christ; and as does the Apostle Paul also; and both seem to be esteemed by them as high characters and titles of honour, by which they chose to be described and known. Paul, before his conversion, was a servant of sin, of divers lusts and pleasures, and which he owns in this epistle, Titus 3:3 but being called by grace, he became free from the vassalage of sin, and became a servant of God, and of righteousness; and henceforward, from a principle of grace, and being constrained by love, served the Lord, and yielded obedience to his commands and ordinances, with all readiness and cheerfulness: though this character belongs to him in a higher sense than it does to believers in common; and respects his ministerial service, or his serving God in the Gospel of his Son; in which he, and others, were eminently the servants of the most high God, whose business greatly lay in showing unto men the way of salvation.
And an apostle of Jesus Christ: constituted, qualified, and sent by him to preach his Gospel; and who had his mission, commission, and doctrine from him; and was an ambassador of his, who represented him, and preached him; and had a power of working miracles to confirm his mission and ministry; and so had all the signs and proofs of an apostle in him; Romans 1:1.That the communication of thy faith: 'that thy faith being communicated to others may, ' etc., as if the apostle's prayer at this moment were for a blessing on those among whom Philemon lived, rather than on Philemon himself; that they might become faithful and give evidence thereof, even as he was doing. But the thought uppermost in St. Paul's mind was that Philemon might add to the other tokens of his true faith, this further one, to receive Onesimus. And the word rendered communication (or fellowship) has the further sense of 'bestowal, or imparting of a favour, ' which seems here to be preferred. Thus the prayer would be strictly for Philemon, that the good deeds which are evidence of his faith may work still more, and with this suit best the words that follow.
May become effectual: displaying its proper power. Good works, the fruits of faith, build up the Christian character to greater perfection. By doing what is already known, men come to know, and hence to do, still more.
In the full knowledge of every good thing: The word, a favourite one with St. Paul and St. Peter, is not the simple word for 'knowledge, ' but implies a continual growth therein, a constant learning, and approach to perfect knowledge. Philemon shows that he knows much of the spirit of Christ, and what in consequence should be the spirit of His people. But there is more to learn, and when learnt it will make clearer still to him how he should behave in the matter of his slaves. To deal in a Christian manner with Onesimus is one of the good things for a full knowledge of which St. Paul intercedes with God on behalf of Philemon.