I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
Parallel translations
- WEB that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
- KJV That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
- NKJV that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
- NASB and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ.
- NLT And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.
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 prays that Philemon's sharing of his faith would grow effective through a deeper knowledge of every good thing believers have in Christ. Faith is meant to be active and fruitful.
Overview
The "fellowship of your faith" refers to the partnership and generosity that flow from genuine belief. Paul prays this active faith would become powerful as Philemon comes to recognize all the spiritual blessings believers possess in Christ. Faithful living deepens when we grasp how rich we already are in the gospel, and that recognition should shape how Philemon now treats Onesimus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Phil 1:9–11And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- 2 Pet 1:8For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Col 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Matt 5:16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- 1 Pet 1:5–8who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- 2 Cor 9:12–14For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
- 1 Pet 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Jas 2:14What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
- Titus 3:14And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
- Jas 2:17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
- Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
- Heb 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- 1 Cor 14:25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
- 1 Pet 3:16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- 1 Pet 3:1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
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 1:6 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.