Philemon 1:20

◄Yes/I say it again►, my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe in Christ.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

In Context

19I, Paul, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you what he owes you, although I might mention to you that you owe me even more than Onesimus may owe you, because it was the result of my telling you about Christ that God saved you.

21I have written this letter to you, confident that you will do what I am requesting you to do. In fact, I know that you will do even more than what I am requesting you to do.

Read all of Philemon 1

Cross References

2 Corinthians 7:4I am very pleased with you. You have greatly encouraged me, so that I am now very joyful in spite of all the hardships that I have endured.

Philippians 1:8God can verify that Christ Jesus causes me to love and long for all of you very much, just like Christ loves you.

Philippians 4:1My fellow believers, I love you, and I long for you. You make me happy [MTY], and I am ◄proud of/pleased with► you. Dear friends, on the basis of all that I have told you, continue to believe firmly in the Lord doing what I have just taught you.

1 Thessalonians 3:7My fellow believers, even though we are suffering very much [DOU] because of what people are doing to us here, we have been cheered up because Timothy told us about your still trusting in Christ.

Philemon 1:12Although ◄he is as dear to me as/I love him as much as I love► [MET] my own self [MTY], I am sending him back to you.

1 John 3:17Many of us have the things that are necessary for us to live in this world. If we become aware that any of our fellow believers do not have what they need and if we refuse to ◄ provide for them/give to them what they need►, it is clear that we do not love God as we claim/say that we do.

Matthew Henry on Philemon 1:9-25

The Apostle's Plea for Onesimus; Salutations. ( a. d. 62.) 8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13… Read the whole commentary →

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