Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:23

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
23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

As Paul closes his letter, he passes on greetings to Philemon from the men with him. Epaphras comes first, and Paul calls him his fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus. Four fellow workers follow in the next verse. Philemon 1:23Philemon 1:24Philemon overview

SpeakingPaul, who writes as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ" together with Timothy, sends this greeting on behalf of Epaphras. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:23Philemon overview

ToPhilemon. The word "thee" is singular, though the letter as a whole also greets Apphia, Archippus and the church in his house. Philemon 1:23Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Strong's G4771

Also involvedEpaphras, a believer from the Colossian church. Colossians says the Colossians first learned the faith from him and calls him "one of you." Colossians 1:7Colossians 4:12Strong's G1889

This is a standard closing greeting. Epaphras sends his respects to Philemon. Paul describes him as sharing his imprisonment, and he does so "in Christ Jesus," because Paul counts his own bonds as being for Christ and the gospel. Philemon 1:23Strong's G0782Strong's G4869Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:13

Paul writes from prison, and the letter does not name the city. The greeting goes to Philemon's household, traditionally at Colossae, which was the home church of Epaphras. Philemon overviewColossians 4:12

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsThe greeting was sent while Paul was in prison and was sending Onesimus back to Philemon. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12

WrittenTraditional: about AD 60-62, from 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

HereThe greeting ties Philemon to the believers around Paul, among them Epaphras, who was "one of you" (Colossians 4:12). Philemon 1:23Philemon 1:24Colossians 4:12

In the whole of ScripturePaul's letters often close with greetings from co-workers. Here Epaphras is joined by Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, several of whom also send greetings in Colossians. Paul's imprisonment did not cut him off: others shared it with him and kept serving. Philemon 1:24Colossians 4:10Colossians 4:12Strong's G0782

For readersEven a list of names shows that the gospel is lived out among real, connected people. Epaphras was a minister to his home church. Colossians says he prayed fervently for them, and here he is with Paul in his bonds. Colossians 1:7Colossians 4:12Philemon 1:23

  • fellowprisonerσυναιχμάλωτος
    Greek · sunaichmalōtos · G4869

    The lexicon defines it as a fellow prisoner, properly a captive taken in war. In the New Testament it appears only in Romans 16:7, Colossians 4:10 and here. It shows that Epaphras shared Paul's captivity and did not merely visit him. Strong's G4869Romans 16:7Colossians 4:10

  • saluteἀσπάζομαι
    Greek · aspazomai · G0782

    It means to welcome or greet. The lexicon notes it was the usual term for passing on greetings at the end of a letter, so this verse is part of the letter's closing. Strong's G0782

  • EpaphrasἘπαφρᾶς
    Greek · Epaphras · G1889

    The lexicon lists this name only at Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:12 and here. Those passages identify him as a Colossian and a faithful minister to them, which links Philemon's letter to the church at Colossae. Strong's G1889Colossians 1:7Colossians 4:12

Takeaway

Philemon 1:23 is a closing greeting from Epaphras, a Colossian believer who shared Paul's imprisonment for Christ. It reminds Philemon that faithful brothers stand with Paul as he makes his appeal for Onesimus. Philemon 1:23Colossians 4:12Philemon overview

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

Rome: Friends with him
The same people send greetings in Philemon and Colossians: Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke. Philemon 1:23-24Colossians 4:10-14

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
He greetsἈσπάζεταίAspazetaiG0782
to pay respects to

ἀσπάζομαι (aspazomai) ἀσπάζομαι depon., [in LXX: Eze.18:7, Jdg.18:15 (שָׁלוֹם שָׁאַל), Est.5:2, 1Ma.7:29, al. ;] to welcome, greet, salute: with accusative of person(s), Mat.5:47, Mrk.9:15, Act.21:7, al.; id. before ἐν φιλήματι, Rom.16:16, 1Co.16:20, 2Co.13:12, 1Th.5:26, 1Pe.5:14; τ. ἐκκλησίαν (Deiss., BS, 257), Act.18:22; as term. tech. for conveying greetings at the end of a letter (MM, see word), used by an amanuensis (Milligan, NTD, 23), Rom.16:22 (on the aoristic Pres., here and elsewhere, see M, Pr., 119; Bl., § 56, 4); κατήντησαν . . . ἀσπασάμενοι (on this constr., see El., § 58, 4; M, Pr., 132, 238), Act. …

youσεseG4771
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; …

EpaphrasἘπαφρᾶςEpaphrasG1889
Epaphras

Ἐπαφρᾶς (Epaphras) Ἐπαφρᾶς, -ᾶ (B1., § 7, 4), ὁ, Epaphras: Col.1:7 4:12, Phm 23.*† (AS)

fellow prisonerσυναιχμάλωτόςsunaichmalōtosG4869
fellow prisoner

συναιχμάλωτος (sunaichmalōtos) συν-αιχμάλωτος, -ου, ὁ a fellow prisoner (prop., of a captive in war, see Lft., Col., 234): Rom.16:7, Col.4:10, Phm 23.† (AS)

of mineμουmouG3165
me

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

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

ChristΧριστῷChristōG5547
Christ

Χριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. …

Jesus,Ἰησοῦ,IēsouG2424G
Jesus

Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Ἰησοῦς, -οῦ, dative, voc. -οῦ, accusative, -οῦν (Heb. יֵשׁוּעַ ,יְהֹשֻׁעַ ,יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), 1. JESUS: Mat.1:21, al.; ὁ Ἰ, ib. 3:13, al.; Ἰ. Χριστός, ib. 1:1, Mrk.1:1, al.; Χρ. Ἰ., Rom.2:26, al.; κύριος Ἰ., Act.28:31, al.; Ἰησοῦ, voc., Mrk.1:24, al. 2. Joshua: Act.7:45, Heb.4:8. 3. Jesus, son of Eliezer: Luk.3:28. 4. Jesus, surnamed Justus: Col.4:11. 5. see: βαραββᾶς. (AS)

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