The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible Philemon 1:15
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season…
The
apostle in this clause seems to soften this business of Onesimus in
running away from his master; he calls it not a running away, but a
departure, an absence from him, and that but for a little while; and
suggests that the hand of God might be in it; that there was an
overruling providence that attended it, such as was in Joseph's
going down into Egypt; and that this separation of Onesimus from his
master, for a short time, was in order that they should come
together again, and never part more, as follows:
that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
or during life, referring
to the law in (Exodus 21:6) or to all eternity, since they were in the
same spiritual relation, partakers of the same grace, and had a
right to the same heavenly inheritance, and should be together with
Christ for evermore.
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