Philemon 1:6

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.

Philemon 1:6 . Ὃπως , that ) This depends on thou hast , Philemon 1:5 .— ἡ κοινωνία τῆς πίστεώς σου , the communion [ the communication ] of thy faith ) i.e. thy faith, which thou hast in common with us and exercisest.— ἐνεργὴς γένηται , may become effectual ) Paul speaks at first indefinitely.— ἐν ἐπιγνώσει παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ , in [ by ] the acknowledging of every good thing ) Every good thing is all the riches which JESUS procured for us by His poverty, when he lived as a poor man upon the earth. He briefly intimates to his friend what he lays down more expressly in 2 Corinthians 8:9 , where there is also, ye know . JESUS ought in turn to enjoy (in His own people ) those benefits which He has conferred upon us. An elegant circle, ἀγαθὸν , good or benefit , occurs presently afterwards, Philemon 1:14 .— εἰς , into ) Construed with may become . The good shown to us ought to redound unto Christ.

That the communication of thy faith: the word sometime signifieth communion, in all which there is a mutual communication between those with whom the commmunion is. That thou mayst declare that thou hast the same common faith with us, thou communicatest the fruits of it. May become effectual; and showest that it is not a dead, inoperative faith, but the true faith of God’s elect, Titus 1:1 , working by love, Galatians 5:6 , and showing itself by good works, Jam 2:18 . By the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus; that every good thing, every good habit of grace which Jesus Christ hath wrought in thy soul, might be acknowledged by others, (the servants of Christ), to whom thou declarest thy love and goodness.

(6) That the communication of thy faith . . . —The general idea of St. Paul’s prayer for Philemon is clear—that his “faith may become effectual,” i.e., energetic and perfected, “in full knowledge.” This is exactly the prayer which, in different forms and degrees of emphasis, opens all the Epistles of the Captivity. (See Ephesians 1:17 ; Philippians 1:9 ; Colossians 1:9 .) It describes the true order of Christian life, so fully and beautifully drawn out in Ephesians 3:17-19 , beginning in faith, deepened by love, and so growing to knowledge. But it may be asked, “Why the communication of thy faith?” (1) The phrase is unique, but the word rendered “communication” is the well-known word generally rendered “communion,” or “fellowship,” except where (as in Romans 15:26; 2Corinthians 8:4; 2Corinthians 9:13; Hebrews 13:16) it is used technically and derivatively of “the communication” of almsgiving. The phrase, therefore, should probably be rendered the “communion of thy faith,” i.e., “thy fellowship in faith.” (2) But, again, the question arises, “With whom is this fellowship? With God or man?” The answer probably is, “With both.” Perhaps for growth in divine knowledge the communion need only be with God.

But we observe that the knowledge is not merely “of every good thing,” i.e., of all that is of God, but of “every good thing which is in you (or, better, in us) towards Christ Jesus.” It is, therefore, the knowledge of good—that is, of God’s gift—as dwelling in man by the unity which binds all to Christ Jesus. (3) Now for knowledge of this, fellowship with man is needed, as well as fellowship with God. The soul which dwells alone with God, even in the holiest seclusion, knows what is good in the abstract, but not what is good in man in the concrete reality. But Philemon’s house was a centre of Christian life. St. Paul might, therefore, well speak of this his two-fold “fellowship in faith,” and pray that it might grow into full knowledge at once of God and of man as in Him. (4) That all such growth must be “towards Christ Jesus,” dependent on unity with Him and serving to deepen such unity, is the characteristic doctrine of all this group of Epistles, especially of the Colossian Epistle, of which Onesimus was one of the bearers.

That the {a} communication of thy faith may become effectual by the {b} acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. (a) By fellowship of faith, he means those duties of charity which are given to the saints, and flow from a productive faith. (b) That by this means all men may perceive how rich you are in Christ, that is, in faith, charity, and all bountifulness.

That (ὅπως) Connect with making mention. The communication of thy faith (ἡ κοινωνία τῆς πίστεώς σου). Κοινωνία fellowship is often used in the active sense of impartation, as communication, contribution, almsgiving. So Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Hebrews 13:16. This is the sense here: the active sympathy and charity growing out of your faith. May become effectual (ἐνεργὴς) See on James 5:16. This adjective, and the kindred ἐνεργέω to work, be effectual, ἐνέργημα working, operation, and ἐνέργεια energy, power in exercise, are used in the New Testament only of superhuman power, good or evil. Compare Ephesians 1:19; Matthew 14:2; Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 12:10; Hebrews 4:12. In the knowledge (ἐν ἐπιγνώσει) In denotes the sphere or element in which Philemon's charity will become effective. His liberality and love will result in perfect knowledge of God's good gifts. In the sphere of christian charity he will be helped to a full experience and appropriation of these. He that gives for Christ's sake becomes enriched in the knowledge of Christ. Knowledge is full, perfect knowledge; an element of Paul's prayer for his readers in all the four epistles of the captivity. In you Read in us. In Christ Jesus (εἰς Χριστὸν Ἱησοῦν) Connect with may become effectual, and render, as Rev., unto Christ; that is, unto Christ's glory.

6. That—The aim of my thanksgiving and prayers for thee is, in order that the, &c. the communication of thy faith—the imparting of it and its fruits (namely, acts of love and beneficence: as Heb 13:16, "to communicate," that is, to impart a share) to others; or, the liberality to others flowing from thy faith (so the Greek is translated, "liberal distribution," 2Co 9:13). effectual by—Greek, "in"; the element in which his liberality had place, that is, may be proved by acts in, &c. acknowledging—Greek, "the thorough knowledge," that is, the experimental or practical recognition. of every good thing which is in you—The oldest manuscripts read, "which is in US," that is, the practical recognition of every grace which is in us Christians, in so far as we realize the Christian character. In short, that thy faith may by acts be proved to be "a faith which worketh by love." in Christ Jesus—rather as Greek, "unto Christ Jesus," that is, to the glory of Christ Jesus. Two of the oldest manuscripts omit "Jesus." This verse answers to Phm 5, "thy love and faith toward all saints"; Paul never ceases to mention him in his prayers, in order that his faith may still further show its power in his relation to others, by exhibiting every grace which is in Christians to the glory of Christ. Thus he paves the way for the request in behalf of Onesimus.

Verse 6. - Render thus: So that the community of thy faith [with other Christians, whom you may be able to serve] may show itself in act, causing full acknowledgment [from the world without] of every good work for Jesus Christ that is in you (Revised Version is not clear here); literally, may become working . Not a theoretical or merely quiescent faith. He was to confess Christ before men (and see James 2:22 ). "For whatever good thing is in us makes manifest our faith" (Calvin). In you . Bishop Wordsworth reads ἡμῖν , "us" - the body of Christians, following A, C, D, E, K, L, with many Fathers and versions. Philemon 1:6

Philemon 1:6 . ὅπως : belongs to μνείαν σον ποιούμενος … Philemon 1:5 is, as it were, in brackets. It would be more usual to have ἴνα here.— κοινωνία : the reference is to identity of faith; the fellowship among the saints, cf. Php 1:5 . The word is used of a collection of money in Romans 15:26 , 2 Corinthians 8:4 ; 2 Corinthians 9:13 ; cf. Hebrews 13:16 .— ἐν : see 2 Corinthians 1:6 , Colossians 1:29 .— ἐπιγνώσει : the force of this word is seen in Php 1:9 .— παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ : cf. Romans 12:2 ; Romans 16:19 , Colossians 1:9 .— ἐν ἡμ . εἰς Χρ .: it is not only a question of men who benefit by “every good thing,” but also of the relationship to Christ; cf. Colossians 3:23 .

6 . that ] This word refers back to the “ prayers ” of Philemon 1:4 ; Philemon 1:5 being a parenthesis of thought. As in his other thanksgivings, so in this, he passes at once into prayer that the good he rejoices in may grow . the communication ] R.V., “ fellowship .” The Greek word occurs Romans 15:26 ; 2 Corinthians 9:13 ; Hebrews 13:16 (and the verb, Romans 12:13 ; Galatians 6:6 ; Php 4:15 ); in the sense of charitable distribution, bounty. So it seems to be here. Philemon, comparatively wealthy, was the generous giver to his poorer fellow-believers. of thy faith ] I.e., which thy faith prompts, and in that sense makes. Philemon’s faith was as it were the inward “distributor to the necessities of the saints,” while his hand was the outward. The phrase, so explained, is unusual, but other explanations are much further fetched. may become effectual ] Operative (Ellicott), or effective (Lightfoot). He prays that Philemon’s life of practical love may “ tell ” around him.—Wyclif, “ may be made opene .” This is from the Latin, which (see Lightfoot) depends on a slight variant (one letter only) in the Greek. by the acknowledging ] Lit. and better, in the (true) knowledge . As the recipients and witnesses of his goodness saw more and more clearly the motive and spirit of it, they would have a truer insight ( epignôsis ) into the power of the Gospel; and “ in ” that insight would consist the deepest “effect” of Philemon’s goodness.—On the word here rendered (R.

V.) “ knowledge ,” see on Colossians 1:9 . every good thing ] Every grace; the gift of love in all its practical manifestations. in you ] Probably read, in us ; us Christians as such. So Ellicott, Alford, Lightfoot, and margin R. V. in Christ Jesus ] Read, unto Christ (perhaps omitting Jesus ).—“ Unto ” Him:—i.e., to His glory, the true aim of the true life of grace. The servant is so to live that not only shall he be seen to be beneficent, but his beneficence shall be seen to be due to Another, whose he is.—Perhaps these words go with “ the knowledge ” just above; as if to say, “your good shall be recognized to His glory.” But this collocation is not necessary.