that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
Parallel translations
- KJV That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
- BSB I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
- 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 1:9–11This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
- 2 Pet 1:8For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Col 1:9For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Matt 5:16Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- 1 Pet 1:5–8who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- 2 Cor 9:12–14For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God;
- 1 Pet 2:12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.
- Jas 2:14What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
- Titus 3:14Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
- Jas 2:17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
- Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
- Heb 6:10For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
- 1 Cor 14:25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
- 1 Pet 3:16having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
- 1 Pet 3:1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;
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
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