10 A man that is an heretick, after the firft and fecond Admonition, + reject: II Knowing that he that is fuch, is fubverted, and finneth, being condemned of 9. Wherefore reject and difcoun- A. D. 64 tenance all the frivolous and contentious Disputes about Jewish Tradiditions, Pedigrees, and Ceremonies; as being of no manner of Advantage, but the greatest Obstacles to the Chriitian Profeffion. ள. αιρετι 10 & 11. Whatever pretended Chriftian is obftinately and incurably bent upon maintaining fuch Doctrines, or Practices, as are directly contradictory to the known Rules of our Religion*; and fuch as, upon fufficient Admonition, he cannot but, avopaHimfelf, know to be fo; and all this out of a factious Temper, to fet himfelf up as Head of a Party, ready to join with any Sect whatever, for promoting fome worldly End and Purpose ; let him + be Expelled from the Chriftian Church, as one Η αυτοκά that acts against the plain Dictates of his own Confcience; TaxpTO. and is to be look'd on as a loft and profligate Person, and his Converfation avoided. himself. * Ver. 9. Foolish Questions. See 2 Tim. ii. 23. Ver. 10. An Heretick-reject. naparrỸ avoid him, have nothing to do with him. Ver. 4. Let ours learn. Some learned Perfons think that by ours he means the Gentile Converts. Let the Reader judge. A. D. 64. ceflary ufes, that they Advice) to the Exercife of Charity be not unfruitful. and Beneficence, wherever there is - Occafion for it, without Distinction, upon any account of different Sentiments and Opinions. A PARAPHRASE ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε Epiftle of St. PAUL ΤΟ PHILEMON. The PREFACE. Nefimus was Servant (or Slave) to Philemon the Coloffian, one of St. Paul's Converts. He had robbed, and ran away from his Master. The better to lie undiscovered, He gets to Rome, where the Apoftle then lay, under his First (See Ver. 22.) Confinement. St Paul providentially happens upon this Man; converts him to the Chriftian Faith; and now fends him back to his Mafter, with this Epiftle of Reconciliation: Wherein are fo many lively Strokes of generous Humanity and Chriftian Compaffion to a reformed Sinner; of fuch Justice, mix'd with fo much Sweetness and Condefcention, along with the Authority of an Apofile, toward one that was both a Friend and a Difciple; as may render it a juft Wonder, to find fome People of Opinion, that This Epiftle contained fo little in it, as to be unworthy to be ranked among St. Paul's Writings. For more particular Moral Reflections from this Letter the Curious Reader may be referred to the Excellent Preface of St. Chryfoftome. * the Sake of Paul, that am now a Prisoner at Rome for Jefus Chrift, and his Religion, fend this Epiftle to my dear Convert, and Fellow-Labourer Philemon, and to my dear Friend Apphia* his Wife, not forgetting Archippus, my Brother Minifter, and all your Chriftian Family: Wishing you all Divine Favours and Bleffings from God the Father, and the Lord Jefus Christ. As doth ‡ Timothy alfo, who is now with me. 4 & 5. Expreffing my hearty Thanks to God (which indeed I never omit to do whenever * I mention you in my Prayers (for your Steddinefs to the Christian Religion, and your Charity to all its Profeffors, which I hear to be fo Exemplary and Remarkable. 6 & 7. For it cannot but be a Matter of the deepest Satisfaction to me, to have fuch ample Teftimonies of your Chriftian Sincerity, in your * Making mention of thee alway in my Prayers. Or thus, ivxaριςῶ τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε, μνείαν σε ποιόμενο. I always thank God when I mention you in my Prayers. + Ver. 6. The Communication of thy Faith. ἡ κοινωνία τῆς Isaw, σ, your sharing or partaking of the (Chriftian) Faith. By your manifefting every good thing to be in you. ledging of every good thing which is in you in Chrift Jefus. 7 For we have great your generous Relief of the Indi- A. D.62, gent and Suffering Members of that Holy Profeffion. joy and confolation in thy love, because the bowels of the faints are refreshed by thee, brother. 8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Chrift, to enjoyn thee that which is convenient, 9 Yet for love fake I rather beseech thee, being fuch a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prifoner of Jefus Chrift. * for the Faith you so 10 I beseech thee for my fon Onefimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time paft was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and to me: : ture, and become Credit to Me. 12 Whom I have fent again: thou therefore receive him that is mine own bowels. 13 Whom of I 8 & 9. Wherefore, with a Perfon a good and generous Difpofition, fhall have no Occafion to infift upon the Respect and Reverence he owes me, as his Apoftle and first Converter; but hope, it may be fufficient for gaining your Compliance with a Requeft, I am now going to make to you, to apply myself to you as a Friend, as an Aged Friend, and a Prisoner much esteem and value. 10 & 11. My Suit is not in my Own Behalf, but of the Bearer your Servant Onefimus; who, though once fo treacherous, † as to Rob and run away from you; yet, now that I have Converted him to the Chriftian Religion, will, I doubt not, make you the utmoft Amends, by a diligent and faithful Service for the fua profitable Servant to You, and a pobúrne, Paul * Ver. 9. Paul the aged-- Or perhaps Пauλ the Ambafador, agreeably to 2 Cor. v. 20. Ephef. vi. 20. Indeed it does not appear that St. Paul was a very aged Man when this Epiftle was written; though it may well be allowed, that the many Fatigues and Hardships he had undergone, might bring an earlier old Age upon him than upon the generality of Mankind. + To thee unprofitable, axpnsov, Injurious. See Rom. i. 28. Ephef. v. 11. Thus Inutilis among the Latins is Injurious. |