Tree of Life Version
Philemon 1:9
9yet for love’s sake I appeal to you instead. I, Paul, am an old man and now also a prisoner belonging to Messiah Yeshua.
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’ve received much joy and comfort in your love, brother, because the hearts of the kedoshim have been refreshed through you. 8Therefore, though I have plenty of boldness in Messiah to order you to do what’s right, yet for love’s sake I appeal to you instead. I, Paul, am an old man and now also a prisoner belonging to Messiah Yeshua. 10I beg you for my child Onesimus—for whom I became a spiritual father while in chains. 11He once was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and 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
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 12:1I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service.
- 2 Corinthians 5:20We are therefore ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Messiah, be reconciled to God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1Since we are co-laboring, we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
- Ephesians 4:1Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you were called—
- Hebrews 13:19I especially urge you to do this, so that I may be restored to you sooner.
- 1 Peter 2:11Loved ones, I urge you as strangers and sojourners to keep away from the fleshly cravings that war against the soul.
- Psalms 71:9Do not cast me away in the time of old age. When my strength fails, do not forsake me.
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory, found on the path of righteousness.
- Isaiah 46:4Even to your old age I will be the same, until you are gray I will carry you. I have done it; I will bear you; I will carry you; I will deliver you.
- Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker.
- Ephesians 3:1For this reason I, Paul, am a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua 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
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries