Philemon 1:7

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 1:7 . For we have great joy and consolation — Timothy and I are greatly rejoiced and comforted; in, or by, thy love — To God and his people; because the bowels of the saints — That is, the saints themselves, to whom it seems Philemon’s house was open; are refreshed by thee, brother — So the apostle terms him; not merely because he was a believer in Christ, but because he was one whom he tenderly loved. “The refreshment of which the apostle speaks was produced by the relief which Philemon’s works of charity brought to them in their distresses. And the saints who were thus refreshed were not those only who lived in Philemon’s neighbourhood, but those also who were driven from their homes for the name of Christ, or who went about preaching the gospel. Perhaps also the apostle meant that the knowledge of Philemon’s charitable actions gave great joy even to the saints who had no need of his good offices.” — Macknight.

Philemon 1:7 . Χαρὰν — καὶ παράκλησιν , joy—and consolation ) These words are usually put together [a customary Syntheton]: 2 Corinthians 7:4 , and I rejoice , says he, for thanksgiving , 1 Corinthians 16:17 , note. [Paul, in respect of God, returns thanks , when he might have said, I rejoice: but when he writes to men, instead of, I return thanks , he says, I rejoice .]— τῶν ἁγίων , of the saints ) The house of Philemon was open to them, Philemon 1:2 .

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the (c) bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. (c) Because you did so dutifully and cheerfully refresh the saints, that they conceived inwardly a marvellous joy: for by this word (bowels) is meant not only the inward feeling of wants and miseries that men have of one another's state, but also that joy and comfort which enters into the very bowels, as though the heart were refreshed and comforted.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love; thy love doth not extend only to the poor distressed saints helped and relieved by thee, but it hath its effect upon others together with myself; it is a wonderful joy and comfort to us to hear that God hath so opened and enlarged thy heart: the fruits of grace in one, are a true cause of joy and thanksgiving to all Christians, because God by them is glorified. Because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother; the saints, or the bowels of the saints, anapepautai, are brought to a rest, as travellers after their journey, or labourers after their day’s labour, when they come to sit still.

(7) The bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee. —The same idea is here carried on. St. Paul declares his special joy to have been that “the bowels ( i.e., the hearts ) of the saints, have been refreshed through thee.” The word “refresh” is the very word used by our Lord in His gracious promise: “Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you ” ( Matthew 11:28 ). It is ultimately in Him that the hearts of the saints are refreshed. But in this case it was through the instrumentality of Philemon, by “the communion of faith,” to which his active love was the means of welcoming them, and in which they had fellowship in Christ, both with the Father and with His children. (Comp. 1John 1:3 .) St. Paul uses the word “refresh” not unfrequently to express the relief and rest given by Christian fellowship on earth. (See below, Philemon 1:20 ; and comp. 1Corinthians 16:18 ; 2Corinthians 7:13 .) We find it in the Apocalypse applied to the rest with Christ in heaven ( Revelation 6:11 ; Revelation 14:13 ). Brother.—The name is given to Philemon here and in Philemon 1:20 with a marked emphasis of affection, evidently implying some special intimacy of friendship, not apparently at Colossæ (for see Colossians 2:1); but perhaps at Ephesus, during St. Paul’s long stay there. Probably Philemon (whose son Archippus is supposed to have been) was St.

Paul’s equal in age, and although actually his convert is not addressed (as usual) as his “son in the faith.” In this place, moreover, the title “brother” has a peculiar appropriateness: for the Apostle has been speaking of the love of Philemon, which made him a brother indeed to all in the family of Christ.

For we have (γὰρ ἔχομεν) Read ἔσχον I had. Connect with I thank in Plm 1:4, giving the reason for thankfulness as it lay in his own heart; as, in Plm 1:5, he had given the reason which lay in outward circumstances. Bowels (σπλάγχνα) Rev., hearts. See on 1 Peter 3:8. Are refreshed (ἀναπέπαυται) See on Matthew 11:28. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:18; 2 Corinthians 7:13. Brother Closing the sentence with a word of affection. Compare Galatians 3:15; Galatians 6:1.

Verse 7. - We have great joy and consolation. The preferable reading is, as in A, C, F, G, N, and Revised Version, I had much joy and comfort (see Ver. 5). "Plenius inculcat et edocet, quare dixerit, gratias ago," etc. (Jerome). The bowels of the saints ; hearts (Revised Version). Either (1) their bodily wants, the cravings of their hunger; or (2) their hearts and affections, supplied and satisfied by the good deeds of Philemon. This is another peculiarly Pauline expression (see 2 Corinthians 6:12 ; 2 Corinthians 7:15 -these two are very similarly used in Vers. 7, 12, 20 - and three other places). " To refresh the bowels is (in Paul) to be taken as meaning a lightening of troubles, so that they may rest with minds free from all sorrow and annoyance" (Calvin). Brother . How persuasively the sentence is turned! An old commentator remarks, "Paul does not yet come to his request, but prepares and softens beforehand the mind of Philemon" (Scipio Gentilis). This course of proceeding is exactly what Quintilian prescribes to an advocate, "His velut fomentis, si quid erit asperum, praemolliemus, quo facilius aures judicum admittant" ('De Institut. Orat.,' 4:3). Philemon 1:7

Philemon 1:7 . ἔσχον : the aorist expresses forcibly the moment of joy which St. Paul experienced when he heard this good news about Philemon.— τὰ σπλάγχνα : regarded as the seat of the emotions.— ἀν . πέπαυται : the compound “expresses a temporary relief, the simple παύεσθαι expresses a final cessation” (Lightfoot).— ἀδελφέ : the place of the word here makes it emphatic, cf. Galatians 6:18 , Php 4:1 .

7 . we have ] Better, I had ; i.e., when the news reached me. joy ] Another reading, ill-supported, has “ grace ” ; which would bear here the sense of thankfulness. One Greek letter only makes the difference. consolation ] R. V., comfort , which is better. The Greek word commonly denotes rather strengthening, encouragement , than the tenderer “consolation”; and the word “comfort” ( confortatio ) fairly represents it (see on Colossians 2:2 ). The news of Philemon’s love had animated the Apostle. in thy love ] Lit. and better, on (account of) thy love ; this life of “faith which worked by love” ( Galatians 5:6 ). the bowels ] Better perhaps, the hearts . So R. V. See our note on Php 1:8 . In the Greek classics the word here used means “the nobler vitals,” as distinguished from the intestines; and though the LXX. do not follow this usage, it fairly justifies us in adopting in English the “nobler” word, by which we so often denote “ the feelings .” are refreshed ] Lit. and better, have been refreshed or rested . See the same verb, and tense, 2 Corinthians 7:13 . The cognate noun occurs, e.g. Matthew 11:28 .—The tired hearts of the poor or otherwise harassed Christians had found, in Philemon, a haven of rest .—See Philemon 1:20 for the same phrase again. by thee ] Lit., through thee, by means of thee . He was the agent for his Lord. brother ] The word of holy family-affection is beautifully kept for the last.—See on Colossians 1:2 .