Though Paul might with authority have urged upon Philemon his duty as a Christian, yet because of his love for him he would not command, but chose rather the language of entreaty: “As Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds, which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.”{LP 286.1}

Selvom Paulus havde myndigt tilskyndet pligten som en kristen over for Filemon, dog fordi han elskede ham ville han ikke befale, men hellere vælge at det bønfaldne sprog: " den gamle Paulus, og nu tilmed Kristi Jesu fange, beder jeg dig for mit barn, som jeg bar fået i mit fangenskab, for Onesimus, som før ikke var dig til »gavn«, men nu er til gavn både for dig og for mig."