Philemon 1:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Philemon 1:1

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Greeting

1 Paul, a ^aprisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,

2 to¹ the beloved Apphia, ^aArchippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 ^aI thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

5 ^ahearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective ^aby the acknowledgment of ^bevery good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we¹ have great joy and consolation in your love, because the⁴ hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—

10 I appeal to you for my son ^aOnesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,

11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12 I am sending him¹ back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own² heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, ^athat your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the ^aflesh and in the Lord.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

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

18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

19 I, Paul, am writing with my own ^ahand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 ^aHaving confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for ^aI trust that ^bthrough your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Farewell

23 ^aEpaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 as do ^aMark, ^bAristarchus, ^cDemas, ^dLuke, my fellow laborers.

25 ^aThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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Philemon 1:2 >>

Definitions of words in Philemon 1:1:

Beloved {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Brother {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Brother {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Fellow {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Jesus {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Jesus {Hitchcock's Bible Names}
Jesus {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Philemon {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Philemon {Hitchcock's Bible Names}
Philemon {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Timothy {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Timothy {International Standard Bible Encyclopedia}

Christ {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Christ {Hitchcock's Bible Names}

Paul {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
Paul {Hitchcock's Bible Names}

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Philemon 1:2 >>

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