Philemon 1:7 kjv
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Philemon 1:7 nkjv
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Philemon 1:7 niv
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.
Philemon 1:7 esv
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Philemon 1:7 nlt
Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people.
Philemon 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Php 4:1 | "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown..." | Paul's joy rooted in believers' steadfastness. |
| 1 Thess 3:9 | "For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God?" | Paul's thanksgiving for believers' faith. |
| 2 Cor 7:4 | "Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation." | Paul's comfort and joy in Corinthians. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation..." | God is the ultimate source of comfort for others. |
| Rom 15:5 | "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus." | God provides comfort for unity. |
| Php 2:1 | "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit..." | Consolation and comfort are fruits of Christ/Spirit. |
| Jn 13:34-35 | "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you... By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” | Christian love as a defining mark of discipleship. |
| Rom 13:8 | "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." | Love as fulfillment of God's law. |
| Gal 5:22 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." | Love as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 13:4-7 | "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." | Description of sacrificial, patient love. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Spiritual refreshing/rest from Jesus. |
| 1 Cor 16:17-18 | "I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours..." | Individuals refreshing Paul and other believers. |
| 2 Cor 7:13 | "Therefore we were comforted by your comfort. And we rejoiced even more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all." | Titus's spirit refreshed by Corinthians. |
| 2 Tim 1:16 | "The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain..." | Onesiphorus refreshing Paul personally. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." | Refreshing as a result of repentance and God's presence. |
| Rom 1:7 | "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints..." | Definition of saints as believers set apart. |
| Col 3:12 | "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering..." | Attributes of holy ones (saints), including tender mercies (hearts). |
| Eph 2:19 | "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." | Believers as "saints" and God's family. |
| Eph 1:15-16 | "Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you..." | Paul's thanksgiving for faith and love shown to saints. |
| Col 1:3-4 | "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints." | Paul consistently gives thanks for faith and love to saints. |
Philemon 1 verses
Philemon 1 7 Meaning
Philemon 1:7 communicates Paul's profound personal joy and spiritual encouragement derived from Philemon's unwavering demonstration of love towards fellow believers. This active, tangible love had a refreshing and comforting effect on the hearts and spirits of other Christians, prompting Paul's heartfelt thanksgiving and providing a foundation for his appeal concerning Onesimus.
Philemon 1 7 Context
Philemon 1:7 is situated at the beginning of Paul’s highly personal and concise letter to Philemon, following his standard opening greetings and an earnest prayer of thanksgiving for Philemon (Phm 1:4-6). In these preceding verses, Paul expresses how he constantly remembers Philemon in his prayers and has heard of Philemon's faith in Christ Jesus and his active love for all the saints. Verse 7 serves as the concrete affirmation and explanation for Paul’s joy and comfort. It underscores why Paul is so thankful: because Philemon’s love has a demonstrable, positive effect on the entire community of believers. This commendation sets the tone for Paul's subsequent appeal for Onesimus (Phm 1:8-21), as it establishes Philemon's character as a man whose heart is already inclined to Christian love, generosity, and compassion, making Paul’s difficult request much more likely to be well-received.
Philemon 1 7 Word analysis
- For I have great joy: Paul begins by explaining the reason for his continuous thanksgiving. The phrase "great joy" (Greek: chara megale) conveys Paul's deep personal delight. It's not a superficial emotion but a profound inner gladness, characteristic of Paul's spiritual experience concerning the progress of the gospel and the faith of believers (e.g., Php 4:1; 1 Thess 3:9).
- and consolation: The Greek term for "consolation" is paraklesis, meaning encouragement, comfort, or exhortation. This word often carries the nuance of strength and solace provided during difficulty. Philemon's actions didn't just bring joy but also comforted Paul, likely easing concerns he might have had or simply reaffirming the spiritual strength of the believers in Colossae.
- in your love: The source of Paul's joy and comfort is agape, a distinctively Christian word for self-sacrificial, benevolent love. It denotes not merely affection, but a volitional, active outpouring of God's character through a believer. Paul recognizes Philemon's love as active and impactful, not just theoretical. This is the cornerstone of Philemon's Christian character.
- because: This conjunction (Greek: hoti) directly links Paul's personal feelings to their cause. It signifies that Philemon’s love had a definite, measurable effect.
- the hearts: The Greek word here is splagchna, which literally refers to the "inward parts" or "bowels," but in biblical Greek, it idiomatically means the seat of deep emotions, affections, and compassion. It signifies the very core of one's being, one's deepest feelings and spiritual vitality. So, "hearts" here means not just intellectual understanding, but profound emotional and spiritual being.
- of the saints: The Greek term hagion refers to "holy ones" or "saints," meaning all believers set apart by God and belonging to Him. This indicates that Philemon's love extended broadly to the entire community of believers, not just a select few.
- have been refreshed: The Greek verb is anapepaumai (perfect passive of anapauo), which means to give or find rest, refreshment, or revival. The perfect tense indicates a completed action with ongoing results; the passive voice shows that the saints received this refreshment. This implies a release from weariness, distress, or burden. Philemon’s hospitality and generous acts brought spiritual and perhaps physical restoration to those who were tired, worried, or in need.
- by you, brother: The phrase "by you" (Greek: dia sou) clearly attributes the refreshment directly to Philemon's actions. The address "brother" (adelphe) emphasizes their shared spiritual kinship in Christ. It underscores Paul's affectionate and fraternal regard for Philemon, a fellow believer and worker in the Lord, setting a tone of spiritual equality and partnership, even when an apostles makes a strong appeal to a house church leader.
Philemon 1 7 Bonus section
- The term splagchna (hearts/bowels) being the seat of emotions underscores a holistic understanding of spiritual and emotional well-being in the ancient world, where deeply felt emotions were often associated with the inner physical organs. When these "bowels" are refreshed, it speaks to a profound restoration of one's very being.
- Paul's persuasive strategy in this letter is highly notable. He begins with effusive praise and sincere appreciation for Philemon's character, setting an agreeable context for what follows. By recognizing Philemon's proven love and generosity, Paul skillfully appeals to these very qualities as the basis for Philemon to welcome back Onesimus.
- Philemon’s refreshing impact was not limited to individuals but was corporate ("the saints"). This points to the collective benefit and strengthening of the entire Christian community due to the active love and service of one of its members.
Philemon 1 7 Commentary
Philemon 1:7 encapsulates Paul's joy and commendation for Philemon's vibrant Christian witness. This verse highlights that genuine agape love is not passive but active and deeply impactful, particularly within the community of faith. Paul is not just hearing about Philemon's general kindness, but specifically his capacity to refresh the "hearts"—the deep spiritual and emotional well-being—of other believers. This refreshment suggests that Philemon was a person of great generosity and hospitality, possibly providing physical provisions, lodging, spiritual encouragement, or acts of service that alleviated burdens for other Christians. Such tangible expressions of love strengthened the spiritual vitality of the saints and offered real comfort. For Paul, this established Philemon as a true partner in the gospel and built a strong relational foundation upon which Paul would present his weighty appeal regarding Onesimus. It reveals a powerful model of how Christian love within the community serves to encourage, sustain, and invigorate all its members.