whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
Parallel translations
- KJV Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
- BSB I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
- NKJV whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
- NASB whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my imprisonment for the gospel;
- NLT I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Eph 3:1For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
- Phil 1:7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.
- 1 Cor 16:17I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.
- Eph 4:1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
- Phil 2:30because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
- Phlm 1:1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The plea to receive a runaway slave as a beloved brother, charging his debt to Paul's account, is a living picture of how Christ receives us and pays what we owe.
How Philemon 1:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.