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Philemon 1:16 — King James Version← Study notes

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?


Philemon 1:16Greek Interlinear

Greek · Philemon 1:1620 words
GreekMeaning
οὐκέτιouketi
no longeradverbG3765
ὡςhōs
aswordG5613
δοῦλονdoulon
a slavenounG1401
ἀλλὰalla
butwordG235
ὑπὲρhyper
aboveprepositionG5228
δοῦλονdoulon
a slavenounG1401
ἀδελφὸνadelphon
a brothernounG80
ἀγαπητόνagapēton
belovedadjectiveG27
μάλισταmalista
especiallyadverbG3122
ἐμοίemoi
to me myselfpronounG1473
πόσῳposō
how muchpronounG4214
δὲde
howeverwordG1161
μᾶλλονmallon
moreadverbG3123
σοὶsoi
to youpronounG4771
καὶkai
bothwordG2532
ἐνen
inprepositionG1722
σαρκὶsarki
the fleshnounG4561
καὶkai
andwordG2532
ἐνen
inprepositionG1722
κυρίῳkyriō
the Lord?nounG2962
Greek text from the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT). Transliteration follows SBL Academic conventions.

Church Fathers on Philemon 1:16

He has well said, “perhaps,” that the master may yield. For since the flight arose from perverseness, and a corrupt mind, and not from such intention, he has said, “perhaps.” And he has not said, therefore he fled, but, therefore he was “separated,” by a more fair sounding expression softening him the more. And he has not said, He separated himself, but, “he was separated.” For it was not his own arrangement that he should depart either for this purpose or for that. Which…

Chrysostom · 4th century · Homily 2 on Philemon
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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Lena HoffmannNote3mo ago
Wisdom for daily life - Philemon 1
When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is fait...
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Elena PetrovaNote3mo ago
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Onesimus was enslaved, then enslaved in another way - by his utility to Philemon. Paul reframes the entire relationship. He's not just useful, he's beloved. Not just a worker, but a brother. I own a ...
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Priya SharmaNote3mo ago
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Aisha MbekiNote3mo ago
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The imagery here is agricultural - the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting. His timing, His methods, His purposes - all beyond our compr...
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Aisha MbekiNote3mo ago
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God is faithful in every circumstance. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. I notice the repetition here is deliberate - the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth si...
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