After offering to assume the debt of Onesimus, Paul reminded Philemon how greatly he himself was indebted to the apostle. He owed him his own self, since God had made Paul the instrument of his conversion. Then, in a tender, earnest appeal, he besought Philemon that as he had by his liberalities refreshed the saints, so he would refresh the spirit of the apostle by granting him this cause of rejoicing. "Having confidence in thy obedience," he 459 added, "I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."

Efter at Paulus havde tilbudt at påtage sig Onesimus gæld, mindede han Filemon om, i hvor høj grad han selv stod i gæld til apostlen. Han skyldte ham sig selv, fordi Gud havde brugt Paulus som redskab til hans omvendelse. Derefter tryglede han inderligt og alvorligt Filemon om, at han, ligesom han ved sin gavmildhed havde vederkvæget de hellige, også ville vederkvæge apostlens sjæl ved at skænke ham denne årsag til glæde. "I tillid til din lydighed skriver jeg dette til dig" tilføjede han, "jeg ved jo, at du endogså vil gøre mere end det, jeg siger."