I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
Parallel translations
- KJV I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
- BSB I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
- NKJV I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
- NASB I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
- NLT I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon,
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.
Quick answer
Paul tells Philemon he constantly thanks God for him in prayer. Genuine thanksgiving opens the letter and shows Paul's sincere affection.
Overview
As in many of his letters, Paul begins with gratitude before making any request. His thankfulness is God-directed, recognizing that whatever good is in Philemon is God's work. This steady prayerful remembrance models how Christian love expresses itself first in intercession and praise, and it warms the relationship before the sensitive matter of Onesimus is raised.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
- Eph 1:16don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,
- Col 1:3We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
- Phil 1:3I thank my God whenever I remember you,
- 2 Th 1:3We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;
- 1 Th 1:2We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
- 2 Tim 1:3I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 1:4 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.