Philemon 1:6 kjv
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:6 nkjv
that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:6 niv
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
Philemon 1:6 esv
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
Philemon 1:6 nlt
And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.
Philemon 1 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jas 2:17 | So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | Faith requires action. |
| Gal 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. | Faith becomes active through love. |
| 1 Th 1:3 | remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. | Practical demonstration of faith. |
| Phil 1:9 | And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, | Growing in love through knowledge. |
| Col 1:9-10 | ...to be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord... bearing fruit in every good work... | Full knowledge leads to fruitful living. |
| Eph 1:17 | that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, | Knowledge of God empowers life. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Faith is essential to please God. |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Early church model of fellowship (koinonia). |
| 2 Cor 9:13 | By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, | Generosity as an expression of the gospel. |
| Phil 1:5 | because of your partnership (koinonia) in the gospel from the first day until now. | Partnership in the gospel, indicating active participation. |
| Rom 15:26 | For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. | Practical giving from believers. |
| Rom 8:9-10 | You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but your spirit is alive because of righteousness. | Christ/Spirit dwelling within believers. |
| Col 1:27 | To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ indwelling is the source of hope. |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. | Created for good works in Christ. |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. | Christ's life within empowering believers. |
| Phil 3:8 | Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | The ultimate value of knowing Christ. |
| 2 Pet 1:8 | For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Growing in virtue prevents being ineffective. |
| Titus 3:8 | The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. | Believers should be zealous for good works. |
| Matt 5:16 | In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. | Good works visible to others. |
| John 15:5 | I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. | All effectiveness flows from Christ. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. | Unity in Christ, shared purpose. |
| 1 Cor 12:7 | To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. | Spiritual gifts for communal benefit. |
Philemon 1 verses
Philemon 1 6 Meaning
Philemon 1:6 conveys Paul’s prayer for Philemon: that his genuine faith, through active participation and fellowship, may manifest effectively. This effectiveness is realized as Philemon fully apprehends and leverages the spiritual wealth and character found within himself (and the Christian community he belongs to) as a result of his union with Christ Jesus. It speaks to the practical outworking of faith in concrete acts of love and righteousness, particularly relevant to Philemon's situation concerning Onesimus.
Philemon 1 6 Context
Philemon is one of Paul's shortest letters, deeply personal and masterfully crafted, likely written during his imprisonment in Rome (c. A.D. 60-62). It concerns Onesimus, a runaway slave who belonged to Philemon, a wealthy Christian leader and host of a house church in Colossae (Col 4:9; Phil 2). Onesimus, having met Paul in prison, became a Christian and ministered to the apostle. Now, Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon, appealing to his master to receive him, not merely as a returned slave but as a beloved brother in Christ.
Verse 6 is part of Paul's introductory prayer for Philemon (Phm 1:4-7), a common Pauline practice to set the tone for the letter. Before making his direct appeal for Onesimus, Paul commends Philemon's love and faith and prays for his spiritual maturity. This prayer frames the delicate request that follows: for Philemon to act in a Christ-like manner—with forgiveness, generosity, and reconciliation—transcending societal norms regarding master-slave relationships. The "good thing" to be acknowledged and put into practice directly relates to Philemon's ability to demonstrate practical Christian love towards Onesimus, transforming a societal relationship into a familial one based on shared faith in Christ.
Philemon 1 6 Word analysis
- that the sharing (ὅπως ἡ κοινωνία / hopos hē koinōnia): The Greek word koinonia is rich in meaning, encompassing fellowship, partnership, participation, communion, and shared experience. Here, it likely refers to Philemon's practical participation in the Christian life, specifically his generosity, kindness, and communal sharing with fellow believers. It's about his faith manifesting itself in tangible ways, especially towards others in the Christian community. It speaks to the active outflow of his faith.
- of your faith (τῆς πίστεώς σου / tēs pisteōs sou): Pistis denotes belief, trust, loyalty, and faithfulness. It's not just intellectual assent but a dynamic, personal reliance on Christ that influences one's actions and life. It's the root from which the "sharing" (koinonia) springs.
- may become effective (ἐνεργὴς γένηται / energes genētai): Energes means active, operative, powerful, or effective. This emphasizes that faith is not meant to be static or dormant but should have a visible and impactful influence. Paul prays that Philemon's faith will demonstrate its inherent power through concrete results, specifically in acts of Christian charity and reconciliation.
- by the acknowledgment (ἐν ἐπιγνώσει / en epignōsei): Epignosis signifies full, accurate, experiential, and transformative knowledge, rather than mere theoretical understanding (gnosis). It implies a deep, comprehensive apprehension or recognition. For Paul, this isn't just knowing about truth but profoundly understanding and acting upon it. Philemon is to fully grasp and embrace what is already true about him in Christ.
- of every good thing (παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ / pantos agathou): This refers to all spiritual blessings, divine attributes, spiritual gifts, Christian virtues, Christ-like character, and the indwelling Christ Himself. These "good things" are a divine deposit or resource given to believers by God.
- which is in you (τοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν / tou en hymin): The Greek hymin is plural ("in you all" or "in us"), even though Philemon is addressed singularly elsewhere in the letter. This is a crucial nuance. Paul shifts to a corporate perspective, suggesting that the "good things" reside not only in Philemon as an individual but also within the collective body of believers—the church that meets in his house. Philemon’s decision concerning Onesimus would affect the whole community and require a collective acknowledgment and manifestation of these "good things."
- in Christ Jesus (εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν / eis Christon Iēsoun): This phrase highlights the ultimate source and sphere of all spiritual blessings, identity, and capability for believers. Everything "good" within a Christian is derived from their union with Christ. This phrase establishes the theological basis for Philemon’s (and the church's) spiritual resources and power to act.
Words-group analysis:
- "the sharing of your faith may become effective": This phrase emphasizes the practical, outward manifestation of an individual's inward belief. It highlights that true faith is dynamic and relational, expressing itself in acts of fellowship, generosity, and love that impact others. The "effectiveness" suggests that the fruit of faith will be observable and consequential.
- "by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you": This links practical effectiveness to a deeper spiritual understanding. It means not only possessing good spiritual qualities but fully recognizing, appreciating, and utilizing them. The epignosis here implies an active realization and drawing upon these resources (spiritual gifts, character, the indwelling Christ) that are present in believers due to their relationship with Christ.
- "in Christ Jesus": This serves as the ultimate context and power source. All these "good things," the ability for faith to be shared and become effective, and the knowledge required to activate them, are rooted in and enabled by one's union with Christ. It is a reminder that Christian living and action are Christ-centered.
Philemon 1 6 Bonus section
The seemingly subtle shift in the original Greek from "your" (singular) faith to "in you" (plural, meaning "in you all" or "in us") is highly significant. Paul first acknowledges Philemon's personal faith, but then broadens the scope of the prayer to the entire house church that met in Philemon's home. This suggests that Philemon's decision regarding Onesimus was not just a private matter between him and his slave, but a corporate issue impacting the community's understanding and manifestation of Christian principles. Paul desired that the church collectively recognize the "good things" they possessed in Christ, especially the principles of brotherhood, equality, and reconciliation, which should govern their communal life. The "effectiveness" of Philemon's faith, therefore, had a direct communal dimension, setting an example for the assembly in their application of the Gospel.
Philemon 1 6 Commentary
Philemon 1:6 is a potent prayer by Paul, illuminating the dynamic nature of genuine Christian faith. It's not merely a passive belief but an active, shared, and impactful force. The prayer anticipates that Philemon's deep-seated trust in God will manifest through concrete deeds of love and hospitality. This effectiveness hinges on his (and the community's) "acknowledgment" – a full, experiential understanding – of "every good thing" resident within believers because of their union with Christ Jesus. These "good things" encompass all spiritual gifts, virtues, Christ-like character, and ultimately, Christ Himself living within them.
Paul is essentially praying that Philemon would fully grasp the riches of his identity and resources in Christ, which would then empower him to make the spiritually wise and gracious decision concerning Onesimus. The underlying truth is that Christian faith is perfected not in isolation but through active engagement, demonstrating love, forgiveness, and generosity. When believers truly realize the abundance of grace and power bestowed upon them "in Christ Jesus," their faith spontaneously flows outwards in acts that transform relationships and situations, bringing glory to God.
For instance, consider:
- A generous act: Acknowledging the "good thing" of God's abundant provision and personal blessing "in Christ Jesus," leading one to generously share financial resources with others in need (koinonia).
- Forgiveness: Realizing the "good thing" of Christ's complete forgiveness and reconciliation given "in Christ Jesus," empowering one to extend radical forgiveness to someone who has wronged them.
- Humble service: Comprehending the "good thing" of being a beloved child of God "in Christ Jesus," freeing one to serve others with humility and love, without seeking personal recognition.