Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
Paul is asking Philemon to take back Onesimus, a slave who ran away. He ends the appeal with trust, not pressure. He writes as a man already sure of the answer. Two questions follow. What obedience is Paul counting on? And what is the "more" he expects Philemon to do?
An appeal, not a command
Paul could have used his authority as an apostle. He chose not to. No command can produce grace.
William KellyYou can never demand or claim grace. In writing the letter to Philemon, the Apostle brings motives of grace to bear on the case. He does not dictate what Philemon was to do, but reminds him of his heavenly relationship, and leaves it to Philemon's grace. Roman masters — and indeed any others — had the right to put a runaway slave to death. Under the law that punishment was just. Yet Paul would have Philemon receive him back no longer as a slave, but as a brother.
The obedience Paul counted on
The word "obedience" can sound cold and mechanical. Writers point to the heart Paul already knew in Philemon.
The Christian's FriendPaul knew Philemon's obedience well. It was not just a mechanical obedience. It came from a heart ready and eager to please the Lord, and to do more than duty demanded.
What the "more" points to
Paul never names the extra thing he expects. Another letter gives a clue. Commentators compare how Paul presents Onesimus to the believers at Colossae.
William KellyCompare this with Colossians 4:9. There Paul presents Onesimus to the Colossian believers in the most formal way, as "our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you." I think anyone is right who concludes that the apostle looked for more in the transformed slave than a simple saint. He was therefore all the more eager for a new triumph of grace in Philemon — not only in taking the wrongdoer back to his heart, but in setting him free.
Grace expects grace
Paul's certainty came from the grace he lived in himself.
The Christian's FriendThe apostle has full assurance of the response he wants from his loving appeal. He has complete confidence in Philemon's obedience, and he says plainly that this is why he wrote. With a full heart of love, he counted on an overflowing answer from Philemon. He lived in the truth of grace himself, and grace delights to give. So he expected grace to act just as freely in his friend and brother.
Confidence in what God has given
Paul's trust was not optimism about people. Writers trace it to the new nature God gives, which no fixed rule can measure.
The Bible TreasuryGod knows what is in man, and He knows what that new nature is which He has imparted — it is His own nature. God can and does count heavily on it, although He puts no confidence at all in the flesh. The God of all grace has done more for us than we could ever have asked. He might have required everything as Lord. Instead He puts us in the place of showing grace. Written rules can fence in a slave's obedience, but not a believer's. Who would set limits to love? Who would say to a child, this is all my heart expects from you?
How the Lord deals with us
Paul deals with Philemon the way the Lord deals with us. That is why this short private letter matters to every reader.
The Bible TreasuryNotice how our gracious Lord keeps giving us opportunities to show grace. He rarely speaks to us in the tone of a command: "Go," "Do this." Instead He says, here is My mind — go and carry it out as far as you can. And everyone who is perfect shall be as his Master.
Summary
- Authority laid down. Paul could have commanded. But grace can never be demanded or claimed, so he reminds Philemon of his heavenly relationship and leaves the choice to him.
- Confidence placed. Paul's assurance rests on the new nature God gives. God counts heavily on that nature, though He puts no confidence at all in the flesh.
- Obedience willing. Paul counts on a heart eager to please the Lord, not mere machine-like compliance. Rules cannot fence in that obedience, because no one sets limits to love.
- Grace overflowing. Paul lived in the grace that delights to give, so he expected free giving in return. The "more than I say" is love's overflow, not an extra duty.
- Freedom expected. Commentators read the unnamed "more" as freedom for Onesimus. It would be a new triumph of grace: the wrongdoer not just forgiven, but set free.