Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, Philemon 1:8 NASB Confidence – If we only had this sentence, we would think that Paul is acting like the Pope. Of course, the next sentence makes it clear that he isn’t issuing a papal bull, but we haven’t investigated that next sentence…
For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 1:7 NASB 1995 Refreshed – Paul has an agenda. It’s obvious and simple. He wants Philemon to accept Onesimus not as a slave but as a brother in the Messiah. Like…
and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. Philemon 1:6 NASB Fellowship of your faith – What is “fellowship of your faith”? It’s an odd expression, don’t you think? Oh, perhaps you never questioned this phrase. Perhaps you thought,…
While we were exploring Rome we came across a rehearsal in one of the churches. Here’s a bit. CLICK HERE
because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; Philemon 1:5 NASB Toward – prós is a complicated Greek preposition. Its meaning changes with the case. If it expresses possession, it is a genitive and generally means “before.” If it is a dative,…
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, Philemon 1:4 NASB Making mention – Translated in this way, it might seem that Paul briefly speaks of these people. “Making mention” is sort of like reviewing a list, saying a sentence or two and moving on to the next item on the…
After three attempts in the last two years to get to this church when it was open, we finally made it. Open for 1 hour and 45 minutes only some days of the week.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon 1:3 NASB Lord – It’s hard to miss that fact that Paul distinguished between God the Father (patḗr) and Yeshua the kýrios (lord). That distinction creates an issue for Trinitarian doctrine, but not nearly as significant as Paul’s statement that…
—also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: Philemon 1:2 NIV Church – But of course it wasn’t a church! The word is ekklēsía, an assembly. In particular, a non-religious assembly. Not a synagoge—a religious assembly. By now we all know why Paul chooses this non-religious…
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: Philemon 1:1b-2 NIV Fellow worker/fellow soldier – Philemon and Archippus aren’t just ordinary believers in Paul’s thinking. They are syn-plus the noun, that is synergō and synstratiōtēs, a combination that demonstrates…
