Philemon 1:13

Philemon 1:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
• New International Version (NIV)I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel,
• New King James Version (NKJV)whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

Context of Philemon 1:13

11Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.

Philemon 1:13 word by word

ὃν ἐγὼ ἐβουλόμην πρὸς ἐμαυτὸν κατέχειν, ἵνα ὑπὲρ σοῦ μοι διακονῇ ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς τοῦ εὐαγγελίου·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• wouldβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• have retainedκατέχωkatechō · to hold back/fastG2722
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• meἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• inὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• he might have ministeredδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the bondsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the bondsδεσμόςdesmon desmos · chainG1199
• of the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098

Cross-references for Philemon 1:13

• 1 Corinthians 16:17I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me.
• Philippians 2:30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
• Philemon 1:1This 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,
• 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.

Commentaries on Philemon 1:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13That in thy stead he might have ministered unto me - As Philemon was one of Paul's converts, he became thereby his spiritual father, and had a right to his services when in need. This was a strong argument, not only to induce Philemon to forgive his servant, but to send him back to the apostle, that he might minister to him in his master's stead.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead - “That he might render me the service which I know you would if you were here.” The Greek is: “for thee” ̔̀ ͂ huper southat is, what he should do for Paul might be regarded as done by Philemon himself. He might have ministered unto me - He might have rendered me assistance ( ͂ͅ diakonē); to wit, in such a way as one who was in bonds would need.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. 13-14Paul suggests that he wants Philemon to decide to free Onesimus so he can help Paul (also 1:21). The Christian life is a voluntary response to God's grace (Romans 12:1; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 3:12–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. I--emphatical. I for my part. Since I had such implicit trust in him as to desire to keep him with me for his services, thou mayest. I would have retained--different Greek from the "would," Phm 14, "I could have wished," "I was minded" here; but "I was not willing," Phm 14. in thy stead--that he might supply in your place all the services to me which you, if you were here, would render in virtue of the love you bear to me (Phm 19). bonds of the…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Retain

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