Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:6

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
6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Verse 6 is part of Paul's prayer for Philemon, which follows his thanks for Philemon's love and faith toward the Lord and all saints. Paul prays that the fellowship that comes from Philemon's faith will become active and effective. This prepares for his appeal that Philemon receive Onesimus as a brother. Philemon 1:4Philemon 1:5Philemon 1:6Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:16Philemon overview

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedOften quoted alone as a general verse about evangelism, meaning 'share your faith with others so it becomes effective.'

In contextIn the letter it is a prayer for Philemon. The fellowship that comes from his faith, already seen in his love for the saints, should become active. Paul then asks him to show it by receiving Onesimus. Philemon 1:5Philemon 1:6Philemon 1:7Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:17Strong's G2842

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

ToPhilemon, Paul's beloved fellow-worker. Apphia, Archippus and the church in his house are also greeted. The 'thy' in this verse is singular and points to Philemon. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overviewStrong's G4771

Also involvedThe saints Philemon has refreshed, and soon Onesimus, whom Paul asks Philemon to receive. Philemon 1:7Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12

Paul prays that Philemon's 'communication', or fellowship, of faith may become effective. That happens as he recognizes every good thing that is theirs in Christ Jesus. Paul's request about Onesimus will give that fellowship a concrete test. Philemon 1:6Strong's G2842Strong's G1756Strong's G1922Philemon 1:17

Paul writes from prison, and the letter does not name the city. Rome is the traditional view. The letter went to Philemon's house church, traditionally placed at Colossae. Philemon overviewPhilemon 1:2

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsPaul prays this while he is in prison, after Onesimus had become a believer through him. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:10

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 60-62, during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. Scholarly view: nearly all scholars accept that Paul wrote it, but some place the imprisonment at Ephesus (about AD 54-55) or Caesarea (about AD 57-59). Philemon overview

HereThe prayer sets up Paul's appeal. He has praised Philemon's love toward all saints, and now he will ask him to show that love by receiving Onesimus as a beloved brother. Philemon 1:5Philemon 1:7Philemon 1:8Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:16Philemon overview

In the whole of ScripturePaul often prays that believers grow in knowledge that bears fruit. He prays that love may 'abound yet more and more in knowledge' in Philippians 1:9. Peter warns against being 'unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ' in 2 Peter 1:8. In Philemon, faith shows itself in love toward the saints. Philippians 1:9Philippians 1:11Colossians 1:92 Peter 1:8Philemon overview

For readersFaith shared in fellowship is meant to become active in real relationships. For Philemon, that meant welcoming a returning servant as a brother. Philemon 1:6Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:17Titus 3:14

  • communication (fellowship)κοινωνία
    Greek · koinōnia · G2842

    The lexicon glosses koinōnia as fellowship or communion, and lists this verse there. It can also mean a contribution that comes out of fellowship, as in Romans 15:26. So 'communication' here means shared participation, not just speech. Strong's G2842

  • effectualἐνεργής, ἐναργής
    Greek · energēs, enargēs · G1756

    Energēs means at work, active, effective. Paul's prayer is that the fellowship of faith will actually be at work. Strong's G1756

  • acknowledgingἐπίγνωσις
    Greek · epignōsis · G1922

    Epignōsis means acquaintance, discernment or recognition. Paul uses the same word in his prayers in Philippians 1:9 and Colossians 1:9. Strong's G1922Philippians 1:9Colossians 1:9

Takeaway

Paul prays that Philemon's fellowship in faith will become active through recognizing the good that is theirs in Christ. He then asks Philemon to put that into practice by welcoming Onesimus as a brother. Philemon 1:6Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:17

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

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
so thatὅπωςhopōsG3704
that

ὅπως (hopōs) ὅπως I. Relat. adv. of manner, as, how: with indic., Luk.24:20. II. Conj., with subjc. (in cl. also with opt., indic.: so in Mat.26:59, LT, Tr.), in order that, to the end that, that; 1. final, denoting purpose or design (in which the original idea of modality has been merged): after pres., Mat.6:2, al.; pf., Act.9:17, al.; impf., Act.9:24; aor., Act.9:2, al.; plpf., Jhn.11:57; fut., Mat.23:35; imperat., Mat.2:8, al.; ὅ. μή (M, Pr., 185), Mat.6:18, Luk.16:26, Act.20:16, 1Co.1:29; ὅ. πληρωθῇ, Mat.2:23 8:17 13:35; ὅ. ἄν (B1., § 65, 2; WM, § 42, 5), Luk.2:35, Act.3:19 15:17, Rom.3:4 (cf. Gen.1 …

fellowshipκοινωνίαkoinōniaG2842
participation

κοινωνία (koinōnia) κοινωνία, -ας, ἡ (κοινωνός), [in LXX: Lev.6:2 (יָד תְּשׂוּמֶת), Wis.8:18, 3Ma.4:6 * ;] 1. fellowship, communion: Act.2:42, 2Co.6:14, Php.1:5; τ. υἱοῦ, 1Co.1:9; τ. αἵματος, σώματος Χρ., 1Co.10:10 : παθημάτων αὐτσῦ, Php.3:10; τ. πνεύματος, 2Co.13:13, Php.2:1; δεξιὰς κοινωνίας, Gal.2:9; τ. πίστεώς σου, Phm 6; before μετὰ: τ. πατρός, 1Jn.1:3 Jn 1:6; ἡμῶν, ἀλλήλων, 1Jn.1:3 Jn 1:7. 2. contribution (as outcome of fellowship): Rom.15:26, 2Co.8:4 9:13, Heb.13:6 (cf. Art. Communion, DB, i, 460 ff.; MM, Exp., xv).† (AS)

faithπίστεώςpisteōsG4102G
faith

πίστις (pistis) πίστις, -εως, ἡ (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמוּנָה ;] 1. in active sense, faith, belief, trust, confidence, in NT always of religious faith in God or Christ or spiritual things: Mat.8:10, Luk.5:20, Act.14:9, Rom.1:8, 1Co.2:5, 2Co.1:24, 1Ti.1:5, al.; with genitive obj., Mrk.11:22, Act.3:16, Rom.3:22, Gal.2:16, Eph.3:12, Jas.2:1, al.; with prep., ἐν, Rom.3:25, Gal.3:26, Eph.1:15, Col.1:24, 1Ti.1:14 3:13, 2Ti.1:13 3:15, 2Pe.1:1; εἰς, Act.20:21 24:24 26:18, Col.2:5, 1Pe.1:21; πρός, 1Th.1:8, Phm 5; ἐπί, with accusative Heb.6:1; ἐν τῇ π. στήκειν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Co.16:13, 1Co.13:5, 1Ti.2:15; ὑ …

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; …

effectiveἐνεργὴςenergēsG1756
effective

ἐνεργής, ἐναργής (energēs, enargēs) ἐνεργής, -ές (late form of ἐνεργός, on WH. cf. AR, Eph., 241), at work, active, effective: 1Co.16:9, Phm 6, Heb.4:12 (Cremer, 261).† (AS)

may becomeγένηταιgenētaiG1096
to be

γίνομαι (ginomai) γίνομαι, Ion. and κοινή for Att. γίγν- (M. Pr., 47; Bl., §6, 8 Mayser, 166 f.), [in LXX chiefly for היה ;] 1. of persons, things occurrences, to come into being, be born, arise, come on: Jhn.1:15 8:58, 1Co.15:37; a first appearance in public, Mrk.1:4, Jhn.1:6, al.; before ἐκ (of birth), Rom.1:3, Gal.4:4; διά, Jhn.1:3; βροντή, Jhn.12:29; σεισμός, Rev.6:12; γογγυσμός, Act.6:1; χαρά, Act.8:8, many other similar exx.; ἡμέρα, Luk.22:66, al.; ὀψέ, Mrk.11:19; πρωΐα, Mat.27:1; νύξ, Act.27:27. …

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 …

[the] acknowledgmentἐπιγνώσειepignōseiG1922
knowledge

ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis) ἐπί-γνωσις, -εως, ἡ (ἐπιγινώσκω, which see), [in LXX: 3Ki.7:14 (B. γν-), Pro.2:5, Hos.4:1, 6 6:6 (דַּעַת), Jdth.9:14, 2Ma.9:11 * ;] acquaintance, discernment, recognition (Plut., al.): Php.1:9, Col.3:10; with genitive of thing(s), Col.1:9 2:2, Phm 6; τ. ἀληθείας, 1Ti.2:4, 2Ti.2:25 3:7, Tit.1:1, Heb.10:26; τ. ἁμαρτίας, Rom.3:20; with genitive of person(s), of God: Eph.1:17, Col.1:10, 2Pe.1:2-3; of Christ: Eph.4:13, 2Pe.1:8 2:20; of God and Christ: 2Pe.1:2; κατ ̓ ἐ., Rom.10:2; ἔχειν ἐν ἐ., Rom.1:28 (see AR, Eph., 248 ff.; and for a somewhat different view, Thayer, see word; Lft. on Col, 1:9; Tr …

of everyπαντὸςpantosG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

good [thing]ἀγαθοῦagathouG0018
good

ἀγαθός (agathos) ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν, [in LXX chiefly for טוֹב ;] in general, good, in physical and in moral sense, used of persons, things, acts, conditions, etc., applied to that which is regarded as "perfect in its kind, so as to produce pleasure and satisfaction, . . . that which, in itself good, is also at once for the good and the advantage of him who comes in contact with it" (Cremer, 3): γῆ, Luk.8:8; δένδρον, Mat.7:18; καρδία, Luk.8:15; δόσις, Jas.1:17; μέρις, Luk.10:42; ἔργον (frequently in Pl.), Php.1:6; ἐλπίς, 2Th.2:16; θησαυρός, Mat.12:35; μνεία, 1Th.3:6 (cf. 2Ma.7:20); as subst., τὸ ἀ, that which is …

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 …

usἡμῖνhēminG3165
me

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

inεἰςeisG1519
toward

εἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; …

ChristΧριστόνChristonG5547
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.Ἰησοῦν.IēsounG2424G
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.