Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:21

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
21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul is closing his appeal for Onesimus, the servant who had left Philemon and become a believer. He has asked Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother and offered to pay any debt himself. Here he says he wrote because he is sure Philemon will respond well, and will even go beyond what Paul asks. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:17Philemon 1:18Philemon 1:19Philemon 1:21Philemon overview

SpeakingPaul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, writing with Timothy. He signs part of the letter in his own hand. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:19Philemon overview

ToPhilemon, Paul's dearly beloved fellow-worker. The letter also greets Apphia, Archippus, and the church that met in his house. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overview

Also involvedOnesimus, Philemon's servant, whom Paul calls his son and is sending back. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12Philemon overview

Paul states his confidence that Philemon will obey his request and do more than Paul has asked. The verse does not say what that 'more' would be. Philemon 1:21Philemon 1:17

Paul wrote from prison, though the letter does not name the city. It was sent to Philemon's house church, traditionally placed at Colossae. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon overview

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsOnesimus had left Philemon, met Paul, and become a believer. Paul is now sending him back with this letter. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12Philemon 1:15Philemon overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 60-62, during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. 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

HerePaul ends his appeal with warm confidence rather than pressure. Earlier he said he could command but chose to ask for love's sake, wanting Philemon's kindness to be willing, not forced. Philemon 1:8Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:14Philemon 1:21

In the whole of ScripturePaul often tells churches he has confidence in them, that they will do what is right. This verse follows that same pattern of trust in fellow believers. 2 Corinthians 2:32 Corinthians 7:162 Thessalonians 3:4Galatians 5:10

For readersThe verse shows that faith works out in love that goes beyond the minimum asked. Paul trusts Philemon's love, which he praised at the start of the letter, to carry him further than the request. Philemon 1:5Philemon 1:7Philemon 1:21Philemon overview

  • having confidenceπείθω
    Greek · peithō · G3982

    The word's root meaning is to persuade; here it is glossed 'having been persuaded of.' Paul's confidence is a settled conviction about Philemon. Strong's G3982Philemon 1:21

  • obedienceὑπακοή
    Greek · hupakoē · G5218

    The word means obedience. Yet in this letter Paul chose to beseech rather than command (1:8-9), and wanted Philemon's kindness to be willing, "not as it were of necessity" (1:14). Strong's G5218Philemon 1:8Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:14

  • more thanὑπέρ
    Greek · huper · G5228

    The word means over, above, or beyond. Paul expects Philemon to go beyond what he has written. Strong's G5228Philemon 1:21

Takeaway

Paul trusts that love will move Philemon to welcome Onesimus generously, even past what was asked. Christian kindness at its best is willing, not forced. Philemon 1:14Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:21

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

Asking a friend to plead
Roman lawyers discussed slaves who went to a friend of their master to ask him to plead for them, and held that such a slave was not counted a runaway. Pliny the Younger wrote a letter of this kind, begging a friend to forgive a freedman who had come to him in tears. Justinian, Digest 21.1.17.4 (citing Proculus)Pliny the Younger, Letters 9.21, 9.24

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
Having been persuaded ofΠεποιθὼςPepoithōsG3982
to persuade

πείθω (peithō) πείθω, [in LXX chiefly for בָּטַח בֶּטַח, its parts and derivatives ;] (i) Active; 1. trans., to apply persuasion ("conative" in pres.; see M, Pr., 147), to prevail upon or win over, persuade: absol., Mat.28:14, Act.19:26; before περί, with genitive of thing(s), Act.19:8; with accusative of person(s), Act.12:20 14:19 18:4, 2Co.5:11, Gal.1:10; τ. καρδίας ἡμῶν, 1Jn.3:19; with accusative before περί, Act.28:23; with accusative and inf., Act.13:43 26:28 (see Field, Notes, 141 ff.); with accusative before ἵνα (Plut.), Mat.27:20. …

obedienceὑπακοῇhupakoēaG5218
obedience

ὑπακοή (hupakoē) ὑπακοή, -ῆς, ἡ (ὑπακούω), [in LXX: 2Ki.22:36 (עֲנָוָה); in Aq.: 2Ki.23:23 * ;] obedience (opposite to παρακοή); 1. in general, absol., εἰς ὑ., Rom.6:16; with genitive subjc., 2Co.7:15 10:6, Phm 21; with genitive obj., Rom.1:5 (Lft, Notes, 246) Rom.16:26, 1Pe.1:22; τ. Χριστοῦ, 2Co.10:5. 2. Of obedience to God's commands: absol., 1Pe.1:2; opposite to ἁμαρτία, Rom.6:16; τέκνα ὑπακοῆς, 1Pe.1:14; with genitive subj., Rom.15:18 16:19. 3. Of Christ's obedience: absol., Heb.5:8; with genitive subj., Rom.5:19. (The word is not found except in LXX, NT and eccl.).† (AS)

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; …

I writeἔγραψάegrapsaG1125
to write

γράφω (graphō) γράφω, [in LXX chiefly for כּתב ]; 1. to scrape, graze (Hom.), and later (Hdt.) to sketch, draw. 2. to write; (a) of forming or tracing letters on writing material: Jhn.8:[6], Gal.6:11, 2Th.3:17; (b) to express in writing, commit to writing, record: Luk.1:63, Jhn.19:21, 22 Rev.1:11, 19 al.; of scripture as a standing authority (Deiss., BS, 112ff.), γέγραπται, it stands written (Luther), Mat.4:4, Mrk.7:6, Luk.4:8, Rom.1:17, 1Co.1:31, al.; id. before ἐν, Mrk.1:2, Act.1:20, al.; with accusative, to write of: Jhn.1:46, Rom.10:5; before περί, Mat.26:24, Mrk.14:21, Jhn.5:46; al.; with dative (WM …

to youσοιsoiG4771
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; …

knowingεἰδὼςeidōsG6063
to know

οἶδα (oida) 1. to know , εὖ οἶδα I know well; εὖ ἴσθι be assured : often with accusative rei, νοήματα οἶδε, μήδεα οἶδε he is versed in counsels, (Homer); with neut. Adjs., πεπνυμένα, φίλα, ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς (Homer); also with genitive, τόξων εὖ εἰδώς cunning in the use of the bow; οἰωνῶν σάφα εἰδώς (Odyssey by Homer): —; χάριν εἰδέναι τινί to acknowledge a debt to another, thank him , (Iliad by Homer), etc.:—;the Imperat. in protestations, ἴστω Ζεὺς αὐτός be Zeus my witness , (Iliad by Homer); doric ἴττω Ζεύς, ἴττω (Aristophanes Comicus): —; εἰδώς absolute one who knows , εἰδυίηι πάντ᾽ ἀγορεύω (Iliad by Hom …

thatὅτιhotiG3754G
that/since: that

ὅτι (hoti) ὅτι, conjc. (prop. neut. of ὅστις). I. As conjc, introducing an objective clause, that; 1. after verbs of seeing, knowing, thinking, saying, feeling: Mat.3:9 6:32 11:25, Mrk.3:28, Luk.2:49, Jhn.2:22, Act.4:13, Rom.1:13 8:38 10:9, Php.4:15, Jas.2:24, al.; elliptically, Jhn.6:46, Php.3:12, al. 2. After εἶναι (γίνεσθαι): defining a demonstr. or of person(s) pron., Jhn.3:19 16:19, Rom.9:6, 1Jn.3:16 al.; with pron. interrog., Mat.8:27, Mrk.4:41, Luk.4:36, Jhn.4:22 al.; id. elliptically, Luk.2:49, Act.5:4, 9, al.; …

evenκαὶkaiG2532
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. …

aboveὑπὲρhuperG5228
above/for

ὑπέρ (huper) ὑπέρ (when following subst.—poët.—ὕπερ; so as adv., 2Co.11:23), prep. with genitive, accusative I. C. genitive, primarily of place (rest or motion), over, above, across, beyond, hence, metaphorically, 1. for, on behalf of: of prayer, Mat.5:44, Act.8:24, Rom.10:1, Jas.5:16, al.; of laying down life, Jhn.10:11, Rom.9:3, al.; esp. of Christ giving his life for man's redemption, Mrk.14:24, Jhn.10:15, Act.21:13, Rom.5:6-8, al.; opposite to κατά, Mrk.9:40, Luk.9:50, Rom.8:31. …

what [things]ἃhaG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

I sayλέγωlegōG3004G
to say

λέγω (legō) λέγω, [in LXX very freq., chiefly for אמר; λέγει for נְאֻם, Gen.22:16, al. ;] 1. in Hom., to pick out, gather, reckon, recount. 2. In Hdt. and Att., to say, speak, affirm, declare: absol., Act.13:15, 24:10; before orat. dir., Mat.9:34, Mrk.3:11, Jhn.1:29, al.; before ὅτι recit., Mrk.3:21, Luk.1:24, Jhn.6:14, al.; accusative and inf., Luk.11:18, Jhn.12:29, al.; after another verb of speaking, προσφωνεῖν κ. λέγειν, Mat.11:17, al.; ἀπεκρίθη (ἐλάλησεν) λέγων (καὶ λέγει; Dalman, Words, 24 ff.), Mat.25:9, Mrk.3:33, 7:28, Luk.24:6, 7, al.; of unspoken thought, λ. ἐν ἑαυτῷ, Mat.3:9, Luk.3:8, al.; of …

you will do.ποιήσεις.poiēseisG4160G
to do/make: do

ποιέω (poieō) ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה ;] 1. to make, produce, create, cause: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.9:11, Act.9:39, Rom.9:20, al.; of God as Creator (with accusative of person(s) also), Mat.19:4, Mrk.10:6, Luk.11:40, Act.4:24, Heb.1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mat.20:12 (cf. Rut.2:19; so AV, but see infr.), Rev.13:5, R, mg. (but see infr.); σκάνδαλα, Rom.16:17; εἰρεήνην, Eph.2:15, Jas.3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Act.24:12; συστροφήν, Act.23:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Luk.1:68, Act.15:3; w …

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