Philemon Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

Paul's Letter to Philemon

1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

1:2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

1:5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

1:6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

• (a) By fellowship of faith, he means those duties of charity which are given to the saints, and flow from a productive faith.
• (b) That by this means all men may perceive how rich you are in Christ, that is, in faith, charity, and all bountifulness.

1:7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

• (c) Because you did so dutifully and cheerfully refresh the saints, that they conceived inwardly a marvellous joy: for by this word

(bowels) is meant not only the inward feeling of wants and miseries that men have of one another’s state, but also that joy and comfort which enters into the very bowels, as though the heart were refreshed and comforted.

1:8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

1:9 yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

• (1) An example of a Christian exercise and commendation for another man.

1:10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, [1] Onesimus, [See Philemon Footnotes 1]

1:11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

1:12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

• (d) As my own son, and as if I had begotten him from my own body.

1:13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

1:14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

• (e) That you might not seem to have lent me your servant on constraint, but willingly.

1:15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

• (f) He uses a more gentle type of speech, but in reality, he ran away.
• (g) For a little time.

1:16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

• (h) Because he is your servant, as other servants are, and because he is the Lord’s servant, you must love him both for the Lord’s sake and for your own sake.

1:17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

1:18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

1:19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

1:20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

• (i) Good brother let me obtain this benefit at your hand.

1:21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

1:22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.