Philemon 1:4

1:1-7 Faith in Christ, and love to him, should unite saints more closely than any outward relation can unite the people of the world. Paul in his private prayers was particular in remembering his friends. We must remember Christian friends much and often, as their cases may need, bearing them in our thoughts, and upon our hearts, before our God. Different sentiments and ways in what is not essential, must not make difference of affection, as to the truth. He inquired concerning his friends, as to the truth, growth, and fruitfulness of their graces, their faith in Christ, and love to him, and to all the saints. The good which Philemon did, was matter of joy and comfort to him and others, who therefore desired that he would continue and abound in good fruits, more and more, to God's honour.

I thank my God,.... Meaning on account, of Philemon, for the grace bestowed upon him, thereafter mentioned; See Gill on Romans 1:8 making other saints, Romans 1:9 , the apostle was a man much in prayer, frequent at the throne of grace; and he prayed not for himself only, but for all the saints, for all the churches and ministers of the Gospel; whom he not only bore upon his mind and heart, but made mention of them, it may be by name; however, he remembered them, and put up petitions, with thanksgivings, for them; and so he did for Philemon; and which he takes notice of with the same view as before: the word, "always", is so placed in the original text, as to be put either to his thanks to God, or his prayers, and may be true of both; the Syriac and Arabic versions join it to the former; and the Vulgate Latin and the Ethiopic versions place it to the latter.

Philemon 1:4-6 . I thank my God, &c. — This epistle, which infinitely transcends all the wisdom of this world, gives us an admirable specimen how Christians ought to treat of secular affairs from higher principles; making mention of thee in my prayers — See Romans 1:9 ; Hearing of thy love and faith — “By telling Philemon that he thanked God always in his prayers for his increasing faith and love, he, in a very delicate manner, prepared him for listening to the request he was about to make in behalf of Onesimus. For it was telling him, in an indirect manner, that his own benevolent disposition would lead him to pardon Onesimus, although he had greatly offended him.” That the communication of thy faith may become effectual, &c. — That is, that thy liberality to the saints, proceeding from thy faith, or the fruits of thy faith communicated to them, in the many good offices which thou dost, may be effectual for bringing others to the acknowledgment of those good things which are in thee and thy family; in, or toward, Christ Jesus — Or, as others understand the verse, the apostle prayed that Philemon’s endeavours to communicate his faith in Christ to others, or to bring them to believe in Christ as he did, might be rendered effectual through the evident excellence of his own example and that of his family, inducing them to entertain a favourable opinion of that religion which produced such beneficial effects on the conduct of those who embraced it.

Thank - always Construe with thank. For similar introductory thanksgivings compare Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3. Making mention (μνείαν ποιούμενος) Μνεία primarily means remembrance, so that the phrase expresses the two ideas, mentioning thee when I call thee to mind. In my prayers (ἐπί) On the occasions of. Thy love and faith - toward (πρός) the Lord Jesus and toward (εἰς) all saints The clauses are arranged crosswise, love referring to saints, faith to Christ. Toward. Two different prepositions are thus translated. Practically the difference is not material, but πρός toward, with πίστις faith is unusual. See 1 Thessalonians 1:8. Εἰς is the preposition of contact; to, unto; faith exerted upon.

Verse 4. - I thank my God always. We ought, therefore, to thank God, not only for gifts bestowed upon ourselves, but also for those bestowed upon others. This is an habitual phrase of St. Paul (comp. Romans 1:8 ; 1 Corinthians 1:4 ; Ephesians 1:16 ; Philippians 1:3 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:3 ; 2 Timothy 1:3 ). "It is to be noted that for the thing on account of which he gives thanks, he at the same time prays" (Calvin). For no good work is ever so complete in us that it does not need to be "continued and ended" in us by God. Making mention of thee in my prayers. The foregoing remark attain applies. Grotius observes that "we learn from this that all addresses to God may be called prayers προσευχὰς , even those in which nothing is asked but thanks are given." But this is apparently not such a case; the petition which St. Paul offered for Philemon being stated in Ver. 6. And thus Chrysostom explains the passage. "Always" may be connected with "I thank," or with "making mention," preferably the former (Chrysostom, Theophylact, Calvin, Lightfoot). Philemon 1:4

4–7 . Thanksgiving and Prayer 4 . I thank my God ] For the phrase precisely cp. Romans 1:8 ; 1 Corinthians 1:4 ; Php 1:3 (where see our note). All the Epistles of St Paul, save only Galatians , contain a thanksgiving in their first greetings. “ My God: ”—so Rom., 1 Cor., Phil., just quoted, and Php 4:19 . Profound personal appropriation and realization speaks in the phrase. making mention of thee ] So Romans 1:9 ; Ephesians 1:16 , where see note; 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ; and cp. Php 1:3 . How often the names written in his Epistles must have been uttered in his prayers! always ] Alford, Lightfoot, and R.V., connect this word with “ I give thanks ”; the Greek order of the sentence allowing it. Ellicott divides as A.V. The question, happily unimportant, is very much one of rhythm and balance, and we think this inclines to A.V. If so, he means that Philemon is habitually mentioned whenever his converts are present in his thanksgivings. in ] Lit., “ on ” ; on occasion of, at the times of.

I thank my God - That is, for what I hear of you. Making mention of thee always in my prayers - See a similar declaration respecting the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 1:16. It would appear from this that Paul, in his private devotions, was in the habit of mentioning churches and individuals by name. It would seem, also, that though he was a prisoner, yet he somehow found opportunity for secret devotion. And it would appear further, that, though encompassed with many cares and sorrows, and about to be put on trial for his life, he did not forget to remember a Christian brother though far distant from him, and to bear him on his heart before the throne of grace. To remember with affectionate concern these churches and individuals, as he did, Paul must have been a man of much prayer.