Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philemon 1:7

χαρὰν אACDG, vulg. Syrr. χάριν Text. Rec. (not Beza’s nor Elzevirs’ editions) with KLP. For the meaning of χάρις here see Colossians 3:16.

πολλὴν ἔσχον אACGP; πολλὴν ἔσχομεν D* Origint, Jerome; ἔχομεν πολλὴν Text. Rec. with (Dc) K (L), etc. Syrr.

7. χαρὰν γὰρ. See notes on Textual Criticism. γάρ states the reason for Philemon 1:4-6, viz. his thanksgiving, prayer, and expectation of Philemon’s progress.

πολλὴν. The sense is carried on to παράκλησιν.

ἔσχον. See notes on Textual Criticism. In ἀκούων (Philemon 1:5) he represents the news as still continuing, contemporary with εὐχαριστῶ; here as all past, in order to emphasize the immediate effect that it had upon him.

καὶ παράκλησιν, “and encouragement”; cf. 2 Corinthians 7:4. For the verb cf. Colossians 2:2; Colossians 4:8. As a prisoner (Philemon 1:1; Philemon 1:9) he needed παράκλησις. Compare παρηγορία, Colossians 4:11.

ἐπὶ τῇ�. St Paul was trusting to this to obtain his request for Onesimus.

τὰ σπλάγχνα, Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:20, and Colossians 3:12, note.

τῶν ἁγίων. Not necessarily those immediately benefited by Philemon. Perhaps even all Christians who heard of him.

ἀναπέπαυται. Philemon 1:20 probably has the same relation to this word as Philemon 1:17 to κοινωνία, Philemon 1:6. Elsewhere in St Paul only 1 Corinthians 16:18; 2 Corinthians 7:13. It connotes not mere rest from toil (much less permanent cessation from work, παύω) but refreshment, rest issuing in fresh energy. Thus it is fittingly used of the rest of soldiers on the march (Xen. Cyr. 2. 4. 3, cf. 6. 1. 11). Lightfoot quotes Plut. Vit. Lucull. 5, πολλῶν αὖθις�ʼ ἀναπεπαῦσθαι.

διὰ σοῦ. “He was the agent for his Lord” (Moule).

ἀδελφέ. Emphatic. A note of St Paul’s affection rather than of Philemon’s faith, see Galatians 6:18; cf. Philemon 1:20.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Philemon 1:7

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