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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Philemon 1:4

Philemon 1:4.— The apostle does not proceed immediately to the main subject of the Epistle; but, after the usual salutations, comes nearer to the point; with the most admirable address thanking God that Philemon had been as generous and kind already, and had done as much in other instances, as he was now going to request of him. He urges the benevolent and good man by his own past example; as if he had said, "Only continue to act like yourself, and then you will do all that I am now going to desire of you." This wascertainly a most grateful and insinuating way of pointing out to Philemon his duty, and the most proper and beautiful introduction to this particular request: Philemon 1:4.

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See also Philemon 1:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Philemon 1:4. _I THANK MY GOD_] For all the good he has bestowed upon you, _making mention of thee always in my prayers_, that thou mayest hold fast all that thou hast got, and get all that thou...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I THANK MY GOD - That is, for what I hear of you. MAKING MENTION OF THEE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS - See a similar declaration respecting the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 1:16. It would appear from this th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATION _ 1. The greeting (Philemon 1:1)_ 2. Recognition of Philemon's faith and love (Philemon 1:4) 3. Concerning the reception of Onesimus (Philemon 1:8) 4.The conclusion ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    INTRODUCTORY. Paul writes from prison, sending greetings from himself and Timothy to Philemon a dear friend with whom he had worked probably during his stay in Ephesus Apphia (presumably Philemon's wi...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    This is a letter from Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, the brother, to Philemon our well-beloved and our fellow-worker; and to Apphia, the sister, and to Archippus, our fellow-sol...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A MAN TO WHOM IT WAS EASY TO APPEAL (Philemon 1:1-7)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THANK. Greek. _eucharisteo_. See Acts 27:35. MENTION. Greek. _mneia_. See Romans 1:9. Eph 1:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:2. ALWAYS. App-161. IN. Greek. _epi_. App-104. prayer

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Thanksgiving and Prayer 4. _I thank my God_ For the phrase precisely cp. Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3 (where see our note). All the Epistles of St Paul, save only _Galatians_, contai...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕΥ̓ΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ͂. There is no more reference to Timothy, for it was a personal request that St Paul was about to make. Contrast the plural in Colossians 1:3. ΤΩ͂Ι ΘΕΩ͂Ι ΜΟΥ. So Romans 1:8; Philippians 1:3....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    4–7. _Introductory thanksgiving for Philemon’s faith and kindness to the saints_ Apart from the Christian courtesy, and the tact under the circumstances, of such an introduction, St Paul here, as alwa...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΎΧΑΡΙΣΤΏ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΕΎΧΑΡΙΣΤΈΩ (G2168) благодарить. Для эллинистических писем было характерно выражение хвалы богам за то, что адресаты находятся в добром здравии и хорошо живут, также авт...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    II. _PAUL'S THANKS FOR PHILEMON;_ PHILEMON 1:4-7. 4. I thank _my_ God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, a. As in many of his epistles Paul starts the section right after his greeting wit...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, ALWAYS - joined by Alford with "I thank my God....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    4 The name Philemon means "fond". He seems to have been a most exemplary character, whose reputation had reached Paul's ears, and had given him joy in the midst of the sorrows and dangers of his situa...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    A VERY PRECIOUS LETTER PAUL’S LETTER TO PHILEMON _KEITH NEVILLE AND MARION ADAMS_ ABOUT THIS LETTER This is a very personal letter. It does not teach about Christian beliefs. It does not give ad...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I THANK MY GOD... — Note the almost exact verbal coincidence with the salutations in Ephesians 1:15; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3, with, however, the natural distinction that this is briefer and si...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:4 (R.V.) PAUL'S was one of those regal natures to which things are possible that other men dare not do. No suspicion of weakness attaches to him when he pours out his heart in lo...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πάντοτε : belongs to εὐχαριστῶ, _cf._ Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3-4....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A PLEA FOR THE RETURNING SLAVE Philemon 1:1 Onesimus had known the Apostle well in the old days when Paul visited at the house of his master Philemon, who seems to have been a man of importance. His...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PHILEMON'S LOVE AND FAITH Paul regularly thanked God for Philemon as he approached the throne of grace in prayer (Philemon 1:4). Here again we have an indication of the prayerfulness of the apostle P...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, (5) Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; (6) That the communication of thy faith ma...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._I give thanks to my God_. It deserves attention, that he at the same time prays for that very thing for which he “gives thanks.” Even the most perfect, so long as they live in the world, never have...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The very beautiful and interesting Epistle to Philemon does not require much comment; it is an expression of the love which works by the Spirit within the assembly of God in all the circumstances of i...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I THANK MY GOD,.... Meaning on account, of Philemon, for the grace bestowed upon him, thereafter mentioned; Romans 1:8 making other saints, Romans 1:9, the apostle was a man much in prayer, frequent a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Ver. 4. _I thank my God_] Thus the apostle begins most of his Epistles. As any man is more or less gracious, so is he thankful. The same G...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I thank my God_, &c. This epistle, which infinitely transcends all the wisdom of this world, gives us an admirable specimen how Christians ought to treat of secular affairs from higher principles; _m...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PAUL'S THANKFULNESS AND SYMPATHY ON ACCOUNT OF PHILEMON'S CHRISTIAN STATE....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 Faith in Christ, and love to him, should unite saints more closely than any outward relation can unite the people of the world. Paul in his private prayers was particular in remembering his frien...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "2 TIMOTHY 1:3"....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Philemon 1:4 thank G2168 (G5719) my G3450 God G2316 making G4160 (G5734) mention G3417 you G4675 always...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Philemon 1:4. I THANK MY GOD. He has just spoken of God as the giver of Christian grace, and the memory of such grace working in Philemon's life, calls forth his instant thanksgiving. How constantly t...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _Philemon's good offices to the Church St. Paul's thankfulness thereat,_ vv. 4-7. He has to appeal for an act of forgiveness to be shown to Onesimus; the apostle therefore, in words of deep thankfulne...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    ALWAYS (παντοτε). Goes with ευχαριστω though so far away in the Greek sentence.MAKING MENTION OF THEE (μνειαν σου ποιουμενος). See 1 Thessalonians 1:2 for this phrase.IN (επ). Upon the occasion...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Greeting to Philemon. Intercession for Onesimus. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Timothy, Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, Paul, Epaphras, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas. CONCLUSION: Wise and good...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    EVERY TIME I PRAY. Here he begins to speak directly to Philemon. Paul made it a habit to pray for God's people....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILEMON—NOTE ON PHILEMON 1:4 Thanksgiving and Prayer. Before Paul makes his appeal, he expresses his gratitude for Philemon (vv. Philemon 1:4) and describes how he prays f

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Philemon 1:4. I THANK MY GOD.—There the apostle carries all his joys and troubles into the presence of his God. Philemon 1:5. HEARING OF THY LOVE.—Perhaps the bearer...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PHILEMON 1:1 A PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS. He writes a private letter, as friend to friend, and therefore does not describe himself by his official title of apostle. Having to plead the cau...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight let's turn to Philemon. Philemon was written by Paul the apostle unto the man whose name is Philemon who lived in Colossi. This letter was written at the same time that Paul wrote the Colossia...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Romans 1:8; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Thank - always. Construe with thank. For similar introductory thanksgivings compare Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    ONESIMUS Philemon 1:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The march of the Gospel in the early years. The Early Church gave itself very definitely to the propaganda of the Gospel. This had been the command of Go...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, Our apostle's holy insinuation and pious wisdom; that he might make. more easy way for his petition, he labours to possess Philemon with an opinion of his endeared affection towards him,...

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