5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; Ver. 5. Hearing of thy love and faith ] Love is first mentioned, as more noticed. But faith is the mother grace, the womb wherein love and all the rest of that heavenly offspring are conceived. read more
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Ver. 6. That the communication, &c. ] This is that which St Paul prayed for Philemon, Philemon 1:4 . For Phm 1:5 " comes in by a parenthesis. read more
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Ver. 7. The bowels of the saints are refreshed ] Gr. αναπεπαυται . Rested, as it were after much toil and travel, which made their hearts ache. read more
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Ver. 8. That which is convenient ] το ανηκον , or, that which is thy duty. Officium autem est ius actionis ad quemcunque statum pertinens, saith Jul. Scaliger. read more
9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee , being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Ver. 9. Yet for love’s sake, &c. ] Here is brave oratory, such as might well mollify the hardest heart; Petendo movet, et movendo petit. Paul the aged ] And therefore venerable. Cognata sunt. Old age and honour are in the Greek tongue very near akin; γηρας and γερας . It is a crown (saith Solomon), and that of glory, when found in the way of righteousness,Proverbs... read more
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Ver. 10. My son Onesimus ] Ignatius, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, maketh mention of Onesimus, as pastor of Ephesus, next after Timothy. The Roman Martyrologue saith, that he was stoned to death at Rome, under Trajan the emperor. Paul calleth him his son because his convert. See 1 Corinthians 4:15 ; so Cyprian calleth Caecilius (who converted him) novae vitae parentem, the instrument of his life; and Latimer saith... read more
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Ver. 11. But now profitable ] So is every true convert; there is little cause that men should boast they are no changelings, since whosoever is in Christ is a new creature. Sir Anthony Kingstone came to Mr Hooper the martyr a little before his death, and said, I thank God that ever I knew you; for God did appoint you to call me, being a lost child. For by your good instructions, whereas I was before both an... read more
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Ver. 12. That is mine own bowels ] Pray for me, mine own heart root in the Lord (said Mr Bradford in a letter to Mr Saunders), Quem in intimis visceribus habeo ad convivendum et commoriendum. read more
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: Ver. 13. In the bonds of the gospel ] Which is bound after a sort, when the preachers thereof are imprisoned. read more
Obtenga el versículo bíblico diario todos los días en su bandeja de entrada
Leer en el móvil
John Trapp Complete Commentary - Philemon 1:4
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Ver. 4. I thank my God ] Thus the apostle begins most of his Epistles. As any man is more or less gracious, so is he thankful. The same Greek word for grace signifieth thankfulness, χαρις . Neither is there anything that seals up more comfort to the soul than for a man to be able from the bottom of his heart to praise God. Self-love may make a hypocrite pray from the bottom of his heart, &c. read more