Philemon 1:9

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

7I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. 8So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus – 10I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, 11who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.

Philemon 1:9 word by word

διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην μᾶλλον παρακαλῶ, τοιοῦτος ὢν ὡς Παῦλος πρεσβύτης νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• love’sὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• love’sἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• Iπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• such an oneτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• the agedπρεσβύτηςpresbutēs · old manG4246
• andδέde · thenG1161
• nowνυνίnuni · nowG3570
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• a prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
• of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for Philemon 1:9

• Romans 12:1Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.
• 2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”
• 2 Corinthians 6:1Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
• Ephesians 4:1I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called,
• Hebrews 13:19I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.
• 1 Peter 2:11Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
• Psalms 71:9Do not reject me in my old age! When my strength fails, do not abandon me!
• Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.
• Isaiah 46:4Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you.
• Philemon 1:1From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,
• Ephesians 3:1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake 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

• Christ
• Jesus
• Paul
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Paul, Saul
• Jesus Christ
• Age; Old Age
• Paul, the Apostle

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