because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.
Parallel translations
- WEB hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
- KJV Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
- BSB because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
- NKJV hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
- NASB because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;
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 gives thanks because he keeps hearing of Philemon's love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints. Philemon's reputation for godliness is well established.
Overview
Faith directed toward Christ and love shown to fellow believers are the twin marks of a true Christian, and Philemon is known for both. His love "toward all the saints" anticipates Paul's plea: will that love now embrace Onesimus, a saint by new birth? Authentic faith in Christ inevitably overflows into love for His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Col 1:4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
- Eph 1:15For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints,
- 1 Jn 5:1–2Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.
- 1 Cor 16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise.
- Ps 16:3As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
- Rom 15:25–26But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
- Rom 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
- Phlm 1:7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
- Gal 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- 1 Jn 3:23This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.
- Acts 9:39–41Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 1:5 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.