Philemon 1:1

Philemon 1:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
• New International Version (NIV)Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—
• English Standard Version (ESV)Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
• New King James Version (NKJV)Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,

Context of Philemon 1:1

This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house. 3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Philemon 1:1 word by word

Παῦλος δέσμιος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς Φιλήμονι τῷ ἀγαπητῷ καὶ συνεργῷ ἡμῶνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• a prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
• of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• TimothyΤιμόθεοςTimotheos · TimothyG5095
• brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• unto PhilemonΦιλήμωνPhilēmōn · PhilemonG5371
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• dearly belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• fellowlabourerσυνεργόςsunergos · co-workerG4904

Cross-references for Philemon 1:1

• Philemon 1:9But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.
• Ephesians 3:1When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .
• Ephesians 4:1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
• Ephesians 6:20I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
• 2 Timothy 1:8So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
• 2 Corinthians 1:1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.
• Colossians 1:1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:1This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Philemon 1:24So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
• Philippians 2:25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.
• Philippians 4:3And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
• Colossians 4:11Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
• 1 Thessalonians 3:2and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,

Commentaries on Philemon 1:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ - It has already been noted, in the preface, that Paul was a prisoner at Rome when he wrote this epistle, and those to the Colossians and Philippians. But some think that the term prisoner does not sufficiently point out the apostle's state, and that the original word should be translated bound with a chain: this is certainly its meaning; and it shows us in some measure his circumstances - one arm was bound with a chain to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ - A prisoner at Rome in the cause of Jesus Christ; Ephesians 3:1 note; 2 Timothy 1:8 note. And Timothy our brother - Timothy, it seems, had come to him agreeably to his request; 2 Timothy 4:9. Paul not unfrequently joins his name with his own in his epistles; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Philemon 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1. As Timothy was of that region of country, and as he had accompanied Paul in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle's joy and praise for Philemon's steady faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints. (1-7) He recommends Onesimus as one who would make rich amends for the misconduct of which he had been guilty; and on behalf of whom the apostle promises to make up any loss Philemon had sustained. (8-22) Salutations and a blessing. (23-25) Verses 1-7 Faith in Christ, and love to him, should unite saints more closely than any outward relation can unite…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Paul, a prisoner: Tradition says the apostle Paul was writing from prison in Rome. But he might have written it earlier from Ephesus, which is closer to Philemon’s home in Colossae (see Philemon Book Introduction, “Date and Place of Writing”). Timothy: He was one of Paul’s closest fellow workers (see “Timothy” Profile). fellow worker: Philemon was active in ministry for Christ.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1The testimonies to its authenticity are--Origen [Homily 19, on Jeremiah, vol. 1., p. 185, Edition Huetius], cites it as the letter of Paul to Philemon concerning Onesimus; Tertullian [Against Marcion, 5.21]: "The brevity of this Epistle is the sole cause of its escaping the falsifying hands of Marcion." Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, 3.25], mentions it among "the universally acknowledged Epistles of the canon"; Jerome [Commentary on Philemon, vol. iv…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Paul
• Timothy
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Paul, Saul
• Jesus Christ
• Beloved
• Philemon

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