Philemon 1:23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philemon 1:8-25

We have here, I. The main business of the epistle, which was to plead with Phlm. on behalf of Onesimus, that he would receive him and be reconciled to him. Many arguments Paul urges for this purpose, Phlm. 1:8-21. The 1st Argument is taken from what was before noted, and is carried in the illative wherefore: ?Seeing so much good is reported of thee and found in thee, especially thy love to all saints, now let me see it on a fresh and further occasion; refresh the bowels of Onesimus and mine... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philemon 1:18-25

1:18-25 If he has done you any damage or owes you anything, put it down to my account. I, Paul, write with my own hand--I will repay it, not to mention to you that you owe your very self to me. Yes, my brother, let me make some Christian profit out of you! Refresh my heart in Christ. It is with complete confidence in your willingness to listen that I write to you, for I know well that you will do more than I ask. At the same time get ready a lodging place for me; for I hope that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:23

There salute thee Epaphras ,.... Who was a Colossian, and minister of the church at Colosse, and so might be well known to Philemon, who seems to have been of the same place and church; see Colossians 1:7 his name is omitted in the Ethiopic version: my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus ; this good man, and minister of Christ, might have been sent by the Colossians, as Epaphroditus was by the Philippians, to the apostle at Rome, to pay him a visit, and comfort and assist him under his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:23

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner - Epaphras was a Colossian, as we learn from Colossians 4:12 ; : Epaphras, who is one of you. But there is no account there of his being in prison, though the not mentioning of it does not necessarily imply that he was not. Some time or other he had suffered imprisonment for the truth of the Gospel; and on that account St. Paul might, in a general way, call him his fellow prisoner. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:23-24

Salute . The salutations correspond generally to those with which the Epistle to the Colossians closes, but they are fuller, as is natural, in the longer Epistle. The order is in— Colossians Philemon Tychicus Epaphras Onesimus Marcus Aristarchus Aristarchus Marcus Demas Jesus Justus Lucas Epaphras Lucas Demas My fellow-prisoner. The word occurs elsewhere only in Romans 16:7 , besides the parallel passage in Colossians 4:10 . As to Epaphras ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:23-25

Salutations and prayer. I. SALUTATIONS . These are the expressions of Christian sympathy and kindness. 1. They are the salutations of the apostle ' s fellow-prisoner . "There salute thee Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus." (a) This was an alleviation to both prisoners, on account of their common faith, their common hopes, and their common interests. Epaphras, as probably the younger man, would be very helpful to the apostle. (b) The cause of the imprisonment... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:23

There salute thee Epaphras - The same persons who are here mentioned as greeting Philemon, are mentioned in the close of the Epistle to the Colossians - furnishing a high degree of evidence that Philemon resided at Colosse. Epaphras was a member of the church there; the notes at Colossians 4:12.My fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus - In the cause of Christ; Notes, Philemon 1:1. The circumstance of his being a prisoner is not mentioned in the parallel place in the Epistle to the Colossians, but... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philemon 1:23-25

Philemon 1:23-25. There salute thee Epaphras, &c. Respecting these persons, see on Colossians 4:10; Colossians 4:12; Colossians 4:14. In that chapter, Philemon 1:10, Aristarchus is called the apostle’s fellow-prisoner; but as that particular is not mentioned here, it is not improbable that he had obtained his liberty about the time when this letter was written. Demas afterward forsook the apostle, namely, during his second imprisonment, from love to this present world, 2 Timothy... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philemon 1:23

salute = greet. Greek. aspocamai. Compare Colossians 4:12 . Epaphras . See Colossians 1:7 . fellowprisoner . Greek. sunaichmalitos . See Romans 16:7 . Christ Jesus. App-98 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philemon 1:23

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;Epaphrus, my fellow-prisoner ... As Nielson suggested, "The reference may be to a physical imprisonment or it may mean captured by Christ."[39] There is no way of knowing certainly just what was meant. Macknight offers the following opinion regarding this fellow-worker of Paul's:This person is called the "faithful minister of Christ" (Colossians 1:7) ... of whom the Colossians had learned the gospel. He is also called one of... read more