1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 2to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. 7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 9yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains, 11who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. 12I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 14But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). 20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Philemon 1:4–6
Paul opens with warmth and prayer. Even while under arrest in Rome, he takes time to thank God for Philemon every time he prays. That kind of intercession reveals Paul’s deep love and personal connection—not just with churches, but with individuals.
Paul speaks of Philemon’s faith in Jesus and love for other believers—qualities he likely knew firsthand. Paul may have led Philemon to Christ during his extended ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19), which was only about 100 miles from Colossae. It's quite possible that during this fruitful time, Paul helped establish the churches in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis (cf. Colossians 4:13), making him deeply familiar with Philemon’s spiritual journey and Christian character.
Rather than launching into his request, Paul builds a bridge: “Your character speaks for itself.” It’s a wise and gracious setup, inviting Philemon to live up to the best of what Paul sees in him.
In verse 6, Paul prays that Philemon’s faith would keep bearing visible fruit—that others would recognize the good things God is doing in him and through him. Some see this as referring to his generous actions, others to his efforts to spread the gospel. Either way, Paul is saying: “May your faith be contagious, evident, and active.”
Faith isn’t just about belief; it’s about what flows out of us into the lives of others. Paul is nudging Philemon toward a Christlike response to Onesimus—not out of obligation, but as a living example of the gospel at work.