Philemon 1:19
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul signs a personal promissory note to repay any debt, while gently reminding Philemon that he owes Paul his very self.
What Does Philemon 1:19 Mean?
Paul makes his pledge official, writing it in his own hand like a signed promissory note: I will repay it. Then, with affectionate wit, he adds that he will not even mention how Philemon owes Paul his own self, likely because Paul had led him to faith in Christ.
The reminder is tender, not heavy. Paul offers to pay Onesimus's debt while hinting at a far greater debt Philemon could never repay, the gift of new life through the gospel. Yet he does not press it. The verse shows love willing to put itself on the line financially, even as it gently recalls how much we have all received, that we might be generous to others in turn.