Philemon 1:15

Modern

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

Traditional

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

Literal

For perhaps because of this he was separated for an hour, so that you might have him back eternally,

Latin

Forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam a te, ut æternum illum reciperes:

Greek

English

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

He was separated from you (literally he went away): This may be a polite way of saying that Onesimus ran away. Paul might be avoiding a direct mention of what Onesimus did.
so that you might have him back for good: Paul implies that God guided these events so that Onesimus would come to faith.

Theme notes and profiles

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.
Genesis 45:5–8
And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.
Isaiah 20:6
And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”
Acts 4:28
They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.