American Standard Version
Philemon 1:9
9yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:
Philemon 1:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
- New International Version (NIV)yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—
- English Standard Version (ESV)yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—
- New King James Version (NKJV)yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—
Context of Philemon 1:9
7For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother. 8Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: 10I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, 11who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:
Read all of Philemon 1Philemon 1:9 word by word
διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην μᾶλλον παρακαλῶ, τοιοῦτος ὢν ὡς Παῦλος πρεσβύτης νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ·Read the interlinear
- love’sἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- sakeδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- oneὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- nowδέde · thenG1161
- prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
Cross-references for Philemon 1:9
- Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain
- Ephesians 4:1I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,
- Hebrews 13:19And I exhortyouthe more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
- 1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
- Psalms 71:9Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth.
- Proverbs 16:31The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.
- Isaiah 46:4and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.
- Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
- Ephesians 3:1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—
Commentaries on Philemon 1:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Paul the aged - If we allow St. Paul to have been about 25 years of age at the utmost, in the year 31, when he was assisting at the martyrdom of Stephen, Acts 7:58; as this epistle was written about a.d. 62, he could not have been at this time more than about 56 years old. This could not constitute him an aged man in our sense of the term; yet, when the whole length of his life is taken in, being martyred about four years after this, he may not improperly…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Yet for love‘s sake - For the love which you bear me, and for the common cause. I rather beseech thee - Rather than command thee. Being such an one as Paul the aged - presbutēs- an old man. We have no means of ascertaining the exact age of Paul at this time, and I do not recollect that he ever alludes to his age, though he often does to his infirmities, in any place except here. Doddridge supposes that at the time when Stephen was stoned, when he is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 It does not lower any one to condescend, and sometimes even to beseech, where, in strictness of right, we might command: the apostle argues from love, rather than authority, in behalf of one converted through his means; and this was Onesimus. In allusion to that name, which signifies "profitable," the apostle allows that in time past he had been unprofitable to Philemon, but hastens to mention the change by which he had become profitable…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9The apostle Paul asked for a favor because Philemon was well-known as a kind and loving person (1:5–7). Paul could have used his authority as an apostle of Christ to demand it, but he chose to ask out of love. I, Paul, am now aged: Paul appealed to the respect owed to older people and his status as a prisoner for Christ Jesus, which would increase a fellow Christian’s respect.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. for love's sake--mine to thee, and (what ought to be) thine to Onesimus. Or, that Christian love of which thou showest so bright an example (Phm 7). being such an one--Explain, Being such a one as thou knowest me to be, namely, Paul--the founder of so many churches, and an apostle of Christ, and thy father in the faith. the aged--a circumstance calculated to secure thy respect for anything I request. and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ--the…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Philemon 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries