Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:2

1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

This verse finishes the greeting of Paul's letter to Philemon. Besides Philemon, Paul greets Apphia, Archippus, and the whole church that met in Philemon's house. So a personal appeal about Onesimus is also read in front of the gathered believers. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon 1:3Philemon overview

SpeakingPaul, writing as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ," together with Timothy. Philemon 1:1Philemon overview

ToPhilemon is the main addressee. Apphia, Archippus, and the church meeting in Philemon's house are named with him. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overview

Paul names Apphia as a beloved believer and Archippus as a "fellowsoldier," a partner in Christian service. He includes the house church in the greeting. The text does not say how Apphia or Archippus were related to Philemon. Philemon 1:2Strong's G0079Strong's G4961Philemon overview

The church met in a home, "thy house" (Philemon's). The letter does not name the town, but Colossae is indicated because Colossians also sends a message to Archippus. Philemon 1:2Philemon overviewColossians 4:17

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsThe greeting opens a letter Paul sent while in prison, before Onesimus returned to Philemon. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:12Philemon overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 60-62, from prison in Rome, at the same time as Colossians. Scholarly: nearly all accept Paul wrote it, but some place the imprisonment at Ephesus (about AD 54-55) or Caesarea (about AD 57-59). Philemon overview

HereBy greeting the whole house church, Paul places his request about Onesimus before the community. Philemon's response to receiving Onesimus as "a brother beloved" becomes a matter of shared faith and love. Philemon 1:2Philemon 1:16Philemon overview

In the whole of ScriptureEarly believers often gathered in homes. Paul greets other house churches the same way, such as those of Priscilla and Aquila and of Nymphas. Romans 16:51 Corinthians 16:19Colossians 4:15

For readersFaith is lived among fellow believers, not alone. Paul treats ordinary church members as family and fellow workers in the Lord. Philemon 1:2Philemon 1:5Philemon 1:7Strong's G0079Strong's G4961

  • sisterἀδελφή
    Greek · adelphē · G0079

    The word here is glossed "our sister." It is used of a fellow member of the Christian community, as with Phoebe in Romans 16:1. Apphia is greeted as family in the faith. Strong's G0079Philemon 1:2

  • fellowsoldierσυστρατιώτης
    Greek · sustratiōtēs · G4961

    It means a fellow soldier and is used figuratively of fellowship in Christian service. The only other use is for Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. Paul elsewhere pictures the believer as "a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3). Strong's G4961Philippians 2:252 Timothy 2:3

  • churchἐκκλησία
    Greek · ekklēsia · G1577

    The word means an assembly. In the New Testament it is used especially of a company of Christians. Here it means the people gathered, not a building. Strong's G1577Philemon 1:2

  • houseοἶκος
    Greek · oikos · G3624G

    The word means a house or dwelling, a home. The church met in an ordinary home, as other churches did. Strong's G3624GRomans 16:5Colossians 4:15

Takeaway

Paul's private appeal is set within a church family meeting in a home. Fellow believers are sisters, brothers, and fellow soldiers in the Lord's service. Philemon 1:2Strong's G0079Strong's G4961Strong's G1577

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Churches in homes
Christians had no church buildings yet. They met in the homes of believers who had room to host them. Romans 16:51 Corinthians 16:19Colossians 4:15
Colossae: The church there
Paul had not visited it himself. Epaphras, a Colossian, first taught the gospel there, and the church met in homes such as Philemon's. Colossians 1:4-7Colossians 2:1Colossians 4:12Philemon 1:2

About AD 60-62. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Philemon and the church in his house lived. A small town in the Lycus valley of Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia, about 190 km (120 miles) east of Ephesus.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over Rome, Asia and Judea. Paul, a Roman citizen, had appealed to Caesar, who in these years was Nero. Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:16Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Colossae stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul appointed for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. Acts 19:38Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Governor of Judea and Jewish client kingFestus and Agrippa IIc. AD 59-62; c. AD 50-90s

    Festus and King Agrippa heard Paul's defense in Caesarea and sent him on to Rome as he had asked. Acts 25:12Acts 25:23-26:32

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 64
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo campaigned in Armenia until the two empires made peace in AD 63. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. c. AD 59-60
    The churchPaul's voyage to Rome

    Paul sailed for Rome as a prisoner, was shipwrecked on Malta, and reached Rome the following spring. Acts 27:1-28:16

  3. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake in the Lycus valley

    An earthquake ruined Laodicea, about 16 km (10 miles) from Colossae; Laodicea rebuilt without Rome's help. A later Christian historian says Hierapolis and Colossae fell in the same disaster. Tacitus, Annals 14.27Orosius, History Against the Pagans 7.7.12Colossians 4:13

  4. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Colchester, London and St Albans before the Romans defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  5. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in his own rented house, guarded by a soldier, receiving all who came to him. Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians are traditionally dated to these years. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31Philippians 1:13

  6. AD 61
    RulersA slave-owner's murder shakes Rome

    When the city prefect Pedanius Secundus was killed by one of his slaves, the Senate upheld the old law that all 400 slaves of his household be executed, despite protests from the crowd. Tacitus, Annals 14.42-45

  7. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed

    Between governors, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" stoned in Jerusalem. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19

  8. AD 64
    The churchFire in Rome, and Nero blames the Christians

    After a great fire burned much of Rome, Nero blamed the Christians and put a "vast multitude" to death. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years and places (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Strabo, Herodotus, Pliny, Roman law). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

to ApphiaἈπφίᾳApphiaG0682
Apphia

Ἀπφία (Apphia) Ἀπφία, -ας, ἡ Apphia: Phm 2 (MM, see word).† (AS)

our sisterἀδελφῇadelphēaG0079
sister

ἀδελφή (adelphē) ἀδελφή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἀδελφός), [in LXX for אָהוֹת ;] a sister: Mat.19:29, al.; metaphorically (MM, VGT, see word), of a member of the Christian community: Rom.16:1, 1Co.7:15 Jas.21:15, al. (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

to ArchippusἈρχίππῳArchippōG0751
Archippus

Ἄρχιππος (Archippos) Ἄρχιππος, -ου, ὁ Archippus: Col.4:17, Phm 2.† (AS)

fellow soldierσυστρατιώτῃsustratiōtēG4961
fellow soldier

συστρατιώτης (sustratiōtēs) συν-στρατιώτης (Rec. συσ-), -ου, ὁ a fellow-soldier (Plat., Xen., al.). Metaphorical, of fellowship in Christian service: Php.2:25, Phm 2 .† (AS)

of usἡμῶνhēmōnG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

atκατ᾽kat᾽G2596
according to

κατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; …

[the] houseοἶκόνoikonG3624G
house: home

οἶκος (oikos) οἶκος, -οῦ, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for בַּיִת, also for אֹהֶל ,הֵכָל, etc. ;] 1. prop., a house, dwelling: Act.2:2 19:16; with genitive poss., Mat.9:6, 7 Mrk.2:11, Luk.1:23, al.; with genitive attrib., ἐμπορίου, Jhn.2:16; προσευχῆς, Mat.21:13, al.; of a sanctuary (Hdt., Eur.): οἶ. τ. θεοῦ, of the tabernacle, Mat.12:4, al.; the temple, Mat.21:13, al.; metaphorically of a city: Mat.23:38, Luk.13:35; of the body, Mat.12:44, Luk.11:24; of Christians, 1Pe.2:5; ἐν οἴ (M, Pr., 81f.), at home, Mrk.2:1, 1Co.11:34 14:35; so κατ ̓ οἶκον, Act.2:46 5:42; οἱ εἰς (= οἱ ἐν; see: εἰς) τ. οἶ., Luk.7:10 15:6; κατ …

of youσουsouG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

church:ἐκκλησίᾳ·ekklēsiaG1577
assembly

ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ (ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;] 1. prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opposite to σύλλογος, a concourse): Act.19:32, 39 41. 2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (Deu.4:10 23:2, al.): Act.7:38, Heb.2:12" (LXX) . 3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church; (a) of gatherings for worship: 1Co.11:18 14:19, 34 35; …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.