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Philemon 1

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Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

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And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

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I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

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Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

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That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

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Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

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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.

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I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

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Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

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Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

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Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

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But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

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For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

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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?

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If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

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If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

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I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

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Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

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Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

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There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

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Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.

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Philemon 1:15

“For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;”

Study Summary

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back forever — the providential framing suggests divine intention underlying Onesimus's flight: separation (apochōrizō — to divide/part) served a higher purpose. The temporal condition (proskairos chronon — brief time) contrasts with the permanent restoration (aiōnion — eternal/forever) Paul anticipates. The separation, painful and wrong in itself, becomes instrumental to reconciliation; slavery is superseded by permanent belonging in the new order.

Community Reflections

1
Priya Nair (test user)10h ago
The light of the world — Philemon 1

His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have…

Read the note →
1
wJLrXXCmgFEEhqAcuusYmLp fJOmHAIFbPYmnreheyA (test user)10h ago
God's sovereignty revealed — Philemon 1

God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. The contrast between…

Read the note →

Philemon 1:15

“For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;”

Study Summary

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back forever — the providential framing suggests divine intention underlying Onesimus's flight: separation (apochōrizō — to divide/part) served a higher purpose. The temporal condition (proskairos chronon — brief time) contrasts with the permanent restoration (aiōnion — eternal/forever) Paul anticipates. The separation, painful and wrong in itself, becomes instrumental to reconciliation; slavery is superseded by permanent belonging in the new order.

Community Reflections

1
Priya Nair (test user)10h ago
The light of the world — Philemon 1

His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have…

Read the note →
1
wJLrXXCmgFEEhqAcuusYmLp fJOmHAIFbPYmnreheyA (test user)10h ago
God's sovereignty revealed — Philemon 1

God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. The contrast between…

Read the note →

Philemon 1:15

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back forever — the providential framing suggests divine intention underlying Onesimus's flight: separation (apochōrizō — to divide/part) served a higher purpose. The temporal condition (proskairos chronon — brief time) contrasts with the permanent restoration (aiōnion — eternal/forever) Paul anticipates. The separation, painful and wrong in itself, becomes instrumental to reconciliation; slavery is superseded by permanent belonging in the new order.