1:8 我雖然靠著基督能放膽吩咐你合宜的事,
1:9 然而像我這有年紀的保羅,現在又是為基督耶穌被囚的,寧可憑著愛心求你,
1:10 就是為我在捆鎖中所生的兒子阿尼西謀(就是有益處的意思)求你。
1:11 他從前與你沒有益處,但如今與你我都有益處。
1:12 我現在打發他親自回你那裡去;他是我心上的人。
1:13 我本來有意將他留下,在我為福音所受的捆鎖中替你伺候我。
1:14 但不知道你的意思,我就不願意這樣行,叫你的善行不是出於勉強,乃是出於甘心。
1:15 他暫時離開你,或者是叫你永遠得著他,
1:16 不再是奴僕,乃是高過奴僕,是親愛的兄弟。在我實在是如此,何況在你呢!這也不拘是按肉體說,是按主說。
1:17 你若以我為同伴,就收納他,如同收納我一樣。
1:18 他若虧負你,或欠你甚麼,都歸在我的帳上;
1:19 我必償還,這是我
─保羅親筆寫的。我並不用對你說,連你自己也是虧欠於我。
1:20 兄弟啊,望你使我在主裡因你得快樂(或譯:益處),並望你使我的心在基督裡得暢快。
1:21 我寫信給你,深信你必順服,知道你所要行的必過於我所說的。
8 Therefore,
although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer
to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man
and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains.
11 Formerly he was
useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would
have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me
while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your
consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
15 Perhaps the reason he
was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back
forever— 16 no
longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear
to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has
done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this
with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very
self. 20 I
do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my
heart in Christ. 21 Confident
of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I
ask.
***********
保羅在這裡為阿尼西謀向腓利門求情,因為在羅馬時代逃跑的奴隸會受到重罰的。但是,阿尼西謀很幸運的是他逃跑之後遇到保羅,也在保羅帶領下信主,在獄中服事保羅,使保羅得益處,如同阿尼西謀這個名字的意義,就是有益處的意思!
這真是一個很美的見證,雖然是逃跑的奴隸,卻因為上帝的安排,使他可以代替腓利門照顧保羅,不必背負逃跑得罪名,又可以代替腓利門服事和照顧保羅,這真是上帝莫大的恩典,使壞是變成好事!不管此事是否真實,讓我們看見上帝在基督裡的救恩,也是成就這樣的美事!使不好的事,轉變成有益處的事情!
在基督裡實在是充滿這樣美好和有益的事!這一切,完全是上帝奇妙的做為!我們信主耶穌之後,因著耶穌基督的恩典,罪成為我們的受到上帝賜福的管道。我們透過認罪,重新成為上帝的兒女!這都是上帝在基督裡所成就的奇妙大神蹟,使本該滅亡受重罰的我們,蒙上帝的接納與寶貝,如同阿尼西謀一般!