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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Phm_1:4-7
4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake. 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Phm_1:4 "I thank my God" It was traditional in the Greco-Roman world to begin a letter with a standard form: (1) from whom; (2) to whom; and (3) a blessing or thanksgiving. Paul followed this pattern (thanksgiving for readers, cf. Rom_1:8; 1Co_1:4; Php_1:3; Col_1:3; 1Th_1:2; 2Th_1:3; blessing of God, cf. 2Co_1:3; Eph_1:3; thanksgiving to God, cf. 1Ti_1:12; 2Ti_1:3). See Special Topic: Paul's Praise, Prayer, and Thanksgiving to God at Eph_3:20.
▣ "making mention of you in my prayers See Special Topic: Intercessory Prayer at Col_4:3.
Phm_1:5 "I hear of your love" Paul did not start the church at Colossae. Apparently Epaphras had brought him information about the developing heresy at Colossae (cf. Col_1:4) and of Philemon's ministry to the saints (cf. Phm_1:7).
▣ "the faith" (cf. Col_1:4). The Greek term (pistis) is translated into English in three ways: "faith," "believe," and "trust." The Greek term had three distinct connotations.
1. its OT background meant "faithfulness" or "trustworthiness," therefore, it was used of believers trusting in the trustworthiness of God
2. it was used in the NT of accepting or receiving God's free offer of forgiveness in Christ
3. it was used in the collective sense of the Christian doctrine or truth about Jesus (cf. Act_6:7 and Jud_1:3; Jud_1:20)
In several passages it is difficult to determine which is meant (cf. 2Th_3:3). See Special Topics: NT Faith at Col_1:2 and OT Faith at Eph_2:8.
▣ "toward all the saints" This is literally "holy ones," those set apart exclusively for God's service. This is not a reference to a sinless lifestyle, but to believers' forensic (legal) position in Christ. It is always plural except in Php_4:21, but even there it is used in a corporate context. To be saved is to be part of a family. This term reflects an OT usage for corporate Israel as a holy people (cf. Exo_13:5; Exo_19:5-6; Deu_7:6; 1Pe_2:9; and Rev_1:6).
Although the term "saints" relates to the believers' standing in Christ, it is not incidental that the root word is "holy." Believers are called not only to salvation but to a progressive sanctification (cf. Gal_2:15-20). Believers are predestined to "holiness" (cf. Mat_5:48; Rom_8:28-29; Gal_4:19; Eph_1:4), not just heaven; to service, not privilege. See Special Topic: Saints at Col_1:2.
Phm_1:6
NASB "that the fellowship of your faith"
NKJV, NRSV "that the sharing of your faith"
TEV "that our fellowship with you as believers"
NJB "that your fellowship in faith"
This verse has been interpreted in several senses.
1. the fellowship of believers with each other (cf. 2Co_8:4; Php_2:1-5)
2. the sharing of the gospel with unbelievers (cf. Php_1:5)
3. the sharing of good things with others
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NASB "through the knowledge of every good thing"
NKJV "by the acknowledgment of every good thing"
NRSV "when you perceive all the good that we may do"
TEV "will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing"
NJB "may come to expression in full knowledge of all the good"
There are some questions involved in interpreting this phrase:
1. to whom does this knowledge refer-Philemon, the church in his house, Onesimus, or Paul
2. to what does this knowledge (epignôskô, cf. Php_1:10; Col_1:9; Col_3:10) refer-forgiveness, slavery, apostolic authority, or the gospel?
In Paul's writings wisdom and knowledge are not separated from ethical living, but form a unified whole (cf. Php_1:9; Col_1:9-10).
NASB "which is in you for Christ's sake"
NKJV "which is in you in Christ Jesus"
NRSV "that we may do for Christ"
TEV "which we have in our life in union with Christ"
NJB "we can do for Christ"
There are two clear options of interpretation in these translations: (1) things we do as believers for Christ or (2) things we have as believers in Christ.
Phm_1:7 "love" Paul uses this term (agapç) three times in this small book. He had heard of their love and faith for Jesus and His followers (Phm_1:5); he had much joy and comfort in their love (Phm_1:7); and he appealed to this God-inspired love to motivate Philemon (Phm_1:9).
▣ "hearts" This is literally the term for "bowels" (splagchna, cf. Act_1:18). This is possibly related to the OT sacrifice of these specific body parts on the altar (cf. Exo_29:13; Lev_3:3-4; Lev_3:10; Lev_3:15; Lev_4:8-9; Lev_7:3-4; Lev_8:16; Lev_8:25; Lev_9:10; Lev_9:16). The ancients located the emotions in the lower viscera or abdomen (cf. Isa_63:15; Jer_4:19). For Paul it relates to Christian love (cf. Phm_1:1; 2Co_6:12; 2Co_7:15; Php_1:8; Php_1:21; Col_3:12; Phm_1:7; Phm_1:12; Phm_1:20).
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