Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:24

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
24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Near the end of his letter, Paul passes on greetings from the men with him. After naming Epaphras his fellowprisoner, he adds Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, calling them "my fellowlabourers." The letter then closes with a blessing of grace. Philemon 1:23Philemon 1:24Philemon 1:25Philemon overview

SpeakingPaul, writing from prison with Timothy, sends these greetings. Philemon 1:1Philemon overview

ToPhilemon, along with Apphia, Archippus and the church that met in his house. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overview

Also involvedFour of Paul's companions: Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke. The same names appear together in Colossians 4:10-14. Philemon 1:24Colossians 4:10Colossians 4:14

This is a list of greetings. Paul names four men who are with him and calls them his fellow workers, the same title he gives Philemon at the start of the letter. Philemon 1:24Philemon 1:1Strong's G4904

Paul writes from prison, but the letter does not name the city; Rome is the traditional view. The letter was sent to Philemon, traditionally at Colossae. Philemon overview

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsThe greetings come from Paul's time in prison, while these men were with him. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:23

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

HereThe greetings show Paul surrounded by "fellowlabourers" while in prison, and tie the letter to the shared work of the gospel. Philemon 1:23Philemon 1:24Philemon overview

In the whole of ScriptureOther Scripture shows these men's stories over time. Mark had once been the cause of a sharp split between Paul and Barnabas, yet here he is Paul's fellow worker, and later Paul calls him "profitable to me for the ministry." Demas, named here as a fellow worker, later "hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." Acts 15:37Acts 15:392 Timothy 4:112 Timothy 4:10Strong's G3138Strong's G1214

For readersA short list of names shows that Paul did not work alone. The later stories of Mark and Demas show that a person once at odds can be restored, and a faithful worker can later turn away. Philemon 1:242 Timothy 4:112 Timothy 4:10

  • fellowlabourersσυνεργός
    Greek · sunergos · G4904

    The word means "a fellow-worker." Paul uses it of Philemon in verse 1 and of these four men here, putting them on the same footing in the work. Strong's G4904Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:24

  • MarcusἸωάννης
    Greek · Iōannēs · G3138

    Marcus is a Roman name. Acts names a "John, whose surname was Mark" who travelled with Paul and Barnabas, and over whom they later parted (Acts 12:12; 15:37-39). Acts 12:12Acts 15:37Acts 15:39

Takeaway

This verse is a simple greeting, but it names real people working beside Paul. It shows the gospel work was shared, and other Scripture shows these workers' paths did not all end the same way. Philemon 1:242 Timothy 4:102 Timothy 4:11

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
[as do] Mark,Μᾶρκος,MarkosG3138
John

Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs) Ἰωάνης (Rec. ννης, which see; cf. Dalman, Gr., 142; Tdf., Pr., 79; WH, App., 159; Bl., §3, 10; 10, 2), -ου, dative, -ῃ (but in Mat.11:4. Luk.7:18, 22 Rev.1:1, ει), accusative, -ην, ὁ (Heb. יוֹחָנָן, LXX: Ἰωανάν, 2Ch.23:1, al.; -ννάν, Je 47 (40):8, al., Aq.), Hellenized form of Ἰωανάν, John ( I Est.8:38(41)*), viz., 1. John the Baptist: Mat.3:1, al. 2. John the Apostle, son of Zebedee: Mat.4:21, Mrk.1:19, Luk.5:10, Act.1:13, al. 3. The father of St. Peter: Jhn.1:43 21:15-17. 4. John surnamed Mark: Act.12:12, 25 13:5, 13 15:37. …

Aristarchus,Ἀρίσταρχος,AristarchosG0708
Aristarchus

Ἀρίσταρχος (Aristarchos) Ἀρίσταρχος, -ου, ὁ (ἄριστος, ἀρχός; i.e. best-ruling) Aristarchus: Act.19:29 20:4 27:2, Col.4:10, Phm 24 (AS)

Demas,Δημᾶς,DēmasG1214
Demas

Δημᾶς (Dēmas) Δημᾶς, ὁ (perh. contracted from Δημήτριος), Demas, a companion of St. Paul: Col.4:14, Phm 24, 2Ti.4:10.† (AS)

[and] Luke,Λουκᾶς,LoukasG3065
Luke

Λουκᾶς (Loukas) Λουκᾶς, -ᾶ, ὁ (prob. an abbreviation of Λουκανός; see Lft., Col., 240; ICC, Lk., xviii; Bl., § 29; accusative to Ramsay, Exp., Dec., 1912, pp. 502 ff., a by-form of Λούκιος, from Lat. Lucius), Luke: Lk, tit., Col.4:14, 2Ti.4:11, Phm 24.† (AS)

fellow workersσυνεργοίsunergoiG4904
co-worker

συνεργός (sunergos) συνεργός, -όν [in LXX: 2Ma.8:7 Mac 14:5 * ;] a fellow-worker: with genitive of person(s), Rom.16:3, 9 16:21, Php.2:25 4:3, 1Th.3:2, Rec., Phm 1 24; θεοῦ (cf. Lft., Notes, 41, 188), 1Co.3:9 (pl.), 1Th.3:2 [WH] R, mg. (R, txt., διάκονον τοῦ θ.; on the original reading, see ICC, in l); τ. χαρᾶς ὑηῶν, 2Co.1:24; τ. ἀληθείᾳ, III Jn 8; before εἰς, 2Co.8:23, Col.4:11.† (AS)

of mine.μου.mouG3165
me

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

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