I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Parallel translations
- WEB For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
- KJV For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
- 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 7:13On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
- 1 Th 3:9How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
- 2 Cor 7:4Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
- 1 Th 2:19After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- Phlm 1:20Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
- 3 Jn 1:3–6For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- 2 Tim 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
- 2 Jn 1:4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- 1 Th 2:13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
- 1 Th 1:3and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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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.