Philemon 1:19

Modern

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

Traditional

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

Literal

I, Paul, wrote with my own hand. I will repay it, that I may not say to you that you also owe to me even yourself.

Latin

Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu: ego reddam, ut non dicam tibi, quod et teipsum mihi debes:

Greek

English

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

Paul guarantees his promise by adding his own signature. He usually dictated his letters to a secretary, but at times he wrote a short part in his own handwriting, as he does here.
your very self: This means Philemon’s salvation. Philemon owed Paul far more than anything Onesimus might have owed him. It is not clear whether Paul led Philemon to faith directly or whether Philemon believed through Paul’s wider preaching (compare Colossians 1:7).

Theme notes and profiles

Galatians 6:11
See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!
Galatians 5:2
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
1 Corinthians 16:21–22
This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.
James 5:19–20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
1 Corinthians 9:1–2
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 4:15
Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 1:4
To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
2 Corinthians 3:2
You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles