Philemon 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

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

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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 1:2

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

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, and Apphia our sister, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house — Philemon is identified as agapētos (beloved) and synergos (fellow worker), establishing him as Paul's partner in gospel labor. Apphia (likely his wife) is synadelphē (sister in Christ), incorporating women explicitly. Archippus is synstratiōtēs (fellow soldier), using military metaphor for spiritual combat. The house church (ekklēsia kata ton oikon sou) grounds early Christianity in domestic space, the locus of apostolic authority and communal identity.

Community Reflections

David Osei93d ago

NoteMercy and justice - Philemon 1

This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. I notice the repetition here is deliberate - the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts. Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal. God is faithful in every circumstance. The imagery here is agricultural - the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting. Their context of persecution gives these words a weight we often miss. God is faithful in every circumstance. God is faithful in every circumstance. His timing, His methods, His purposes - all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good. His timing, His methods, His purposes -…

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Philemon 1:2

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

Community Reflections

David Osei93d ago

NoteMercy and justice - Philemon 1

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