Philemon 1:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philemon 1:1-7

I. In the Phlm. 1:1, 2 of the preface we have the persons from and to whom it is written, with some annexed note or title, implying somewhat of argument to the purpose of the letter. 1. The persons writing: Paul, the principal, who calls himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, that is, for Jesus Christ. To be a prisoner simply is no comfort nor honour; but such as Paul was, for the faith and preaching of the gospel, this was true glory, and proper to move Phlm. upon the request made to him by such... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Philemon 1:1-7

1:1-7 This is a letter from Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, the brother, to Philemon our well-beloved and our fellow-worker; and to Apphia, the sister, and to Archippus, our fellow-soldier, and to the Church in your house. Grace be to you and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God when I make mention of you in my prayers, for I hear of your love and your faith, which you have to the Lord Jesus, and to all God's dedicated... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love and faith ,.... Those two spring from the free favour and love of God, and are the pure gifts of his grace; and therefore thanks are to be given for them to God; nor are they to be ascribed to the power and will of man; they are the fruits of the Spirit of God; and are the principal ingredients in sanctification, which is entirely his work; and they are in all regenerate persons; and are the evidences of regeneration; by which it is known that men are passed from death to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love and faith - His faith in Christ Jesus, his love to the saints. Several excellent MSS. and some versions put faith before love, which makes a more natural reading. There is no figure of speech which would vindicate our saying faith in the saints; so that, if we do not allow of the arrangement in the MSS. referred to, we shall be obliged to have recourse to the transposition, because faith must refer to Jesus Christ, and love to the saints. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:5

Verse 5 5.Hearing of thy love and faith. This praise, which he bestows on Philemon, includes briefly the whole perfection of a Christian man. It consists of two parts, faith in Christ, and love towards our neighbors; for to these all the actions and all the duties of our life relate. Faith is said to be in Christ, because to him it especially looks; in like manner as in no other way than through him alone can God the Father be known, and in no other than in Him can we find any of the blessings... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:4-5

The constituent parts of acceptable prayer: thanksgiving, intercession, personal petitions. 1. An example of these here, incidentally given, not purposely , , St. Paul's practice with regard to Philemon. He was not familiarly known to the apostle. Perhaps it was with a certain surprise he learned that the great apostle habitually "made mention of him" in his prayers. In like manner, many Christians are being helped, without their own knowledge, by the prayers of others. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:4-7

Recognition of the Christian character and services of Philemon. This is after the apostle's usual manner. I. THE THANKSGIVING . "I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers." 1. Though it is not unlawful to praise men for their graces or virtues , God is first to be thanked as the Author of these dispositions . "We rejoice [or, 'boast'] in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Romans 5:11 ). It is the privilege of the believer to speak of God as "my... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love, and of the faith … saints. He would hear of these instances of Philemon's faith and love naturally through Epaphras (see on Philemon 1:2 ). Refer "faith" to "the Lord Jesus" and "love" to "all the saints" (a chiasmus , or cross-reference). Note that the phrase is πρὸς ( i.e. erga , towards) τὸν κύριον , but εἰς ( i.e. upon) τοὺς ἁγίους ; perhaps because Christ cannot now be reached by bodily efforts, but only aspired towards by the soul;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philemon 1:5-6

Man glorifying God. Man is created for God's glory, and finds the highest end of his being, therefore, in glorifying him. Four ways may be distinguished in which he does this. I. THE WAY OF GOOD DEEDS DONE IN HIS STRENGTH , which cause others to glorify him. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" ( Matthew 5:16 ). This is the mode referred to here: "That thy faith may become effectual by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love and faith - Either by Onesimus, who, after his conversion, would be disposed to state all that he knew that was favorable of Philemon, or hearing it by some other persons who had come from Colosse to Rome. The faith which is mentioned here refers to the Lord Jesus; the love, to the saints. The order in the Greek is indeed the same as in our version, but it is not unusual by synthesis, or uniting two or more things together, to arrange words in that manner. Thus Matthew... read more

Group of Brands