For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Parallel translations
- KJV For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
- BSB I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- NKJV For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
- NASB For I have had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
- NLT Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
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
Philemon's love has brought Paul great joy and comfort because he has refreshed the hearts of God's people. His past kindness becomes the basis for Paul's request.
Overview
Paul rejoices that Philemon's love has "refreshed" the saints, a warm image of relief and renewal. Calling him "brother" underscores their shared family bond in Christ. This commendation is not flattery but honest praise that gently sets up verse 20, where Paul will ask Philemon to refresh his heart as well by receiving Onesimus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Cor 7:13Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
- 1 Th 3:9For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
- 2 Cor 7:4Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction.
- 1 Th 2:19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- Phlm 1:20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
- 3 Jn 1:3–6For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
- 2 Tim 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,
- 2 Jn 1:4I rejoice greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, even as we have been commanded by the Father.
- 1 Th 2:13For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.
- 1 Th 1:3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
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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 1:7 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.