Philemon 1:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philemon 1:4-6

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... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:1-21

CONTENTS OF THE LETTERPaul greets Philemon, his wife Apphia, and the other believers who meet in their home. He also greets Archippus, who was possibly their son and who was serving God in that region (1-3; cf. Colossians 4:17). Paul rejoices because of what he has heard (probably from Epaphras and Onesimus; cf. Colossians 1:7-8; Colossians 4:9,Colossians 4:12) of Philemon’s strong faith in God and sincere love for God’s people. This faith and love have been a source of strength and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philemon 1:5

love = the love. App-135 . faith = the faith. App-150 . toward. Greek. pros . App-104 . Lord. App-98 . Jesus. App-98 . toward. Greek. eis, App-104 . saints = the saints. See Acts 9:13 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philemon 1:5

hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;As testified by the ASV margin, the alternate reading of this verse is "the love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints." Of course, as may have been expected, the preferred reading by the translators was designed to favor their usual understanding of the meaning of faith. The meaning of "faith" in this place is fidelity or faithfulness, a quality which is to be manifested... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philemon 1:5

Philemon 1:5. Hearing of thy love and faith,— "Hearing, with greater pleasure than I can express, of the steady faith which thou hast, and always maintainest, toward the Lord Jesus Christ, as the great object to which our faith as Christians is directed, and of thy ardent love to all the saints, who are the excellent of the earth, and the most deserving of our esteem and affection." The words of this verse stand in the original as they are placed in our version; and many instances of such a... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:5

Hearing — the ground of his thanksgiving. It is a delicate mark of authenticity, that he says “hearing” as to churches and persons whom he had not seen or then visited. Now Colosse, Philemon’s place of residence, he had never yet seen. Yet :- here implies that Philemon was his convert. Philemon, doubtless, was converted at Ephesus, or in some other place where he met Paul.love and faith — The theological order is first faith then love, the fruit of faith. But he purposely puts Philemon’s love... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:4-5

"When Paul states he gave thanks ’continually’ he means that he did not forget Philemon in his regular prayers . . ." [Note: Peter T. O’Brien, Colossians, Philemon, p. 277.] "Again we should not regard this as mere literary flourish . . . . Paul must have had an extensive prayer list and presumably spent some time each day naming before God all his churches, colleagues, and supporters. This would help maintain and strengthen the sense of a faith shared with ’all the saints’ (5-6)." [Note: Dunn,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:4-7

II. THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER FOR PHILEMON vv. 4-7Paul commended Philemon for the fruit of the Spirit that Philemon permitted the Spirit to manifest in his life. He also prayed that it would continue to abound to encourage Philemon to respond to the request that follows in a manner consistent with God’s will. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:5

(5) Thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints.—This description of a faith directed not only to the Lord Jesus, but to all the saints, has perplexed commentators, and called out various explanations. (1) One is that “faith” here (as in Romans 3:3; Galatians 5:22) is simply fidelity; but this can hardly be accepted as an explanation of so well-known and almost technical a phrase as “faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2) Another, noting the distinction in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:4-7

Chapter 5 Philemon 1:4-7 (R.V.)PAUL’S was one of those regal natures to which things are possible that other men dare not do. No suspicion of weakness attaches to him when he pours out his heart in love, nor any of insincerity when he speaks of his continual prayers for his friends, or when he runs over in praise of his converts. Few men have been able to talk so much of their love without betraying its shallowness and self-consciousness, or of their prayers without exciting a doubt of their... read more

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