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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Philemon 1:20

Verse Philemon 1:20. Yea, brother] It is even so, that thou art thus indebted to me. Let me have joy of thee, in forgiving Onesimus, and receiving him into thy favour. In the words εγε σου οναιμην, which we should translate, let me have PROFIT of thee, there is an evident paronomasia, or play on the name of Onesimus. See on Philemon 1:2; Philemon 1:11.

Refresh my bowels] Gratify the earnest longing of my soul in this. I ask neither thy money nor goods; I ask what will enrich, not impoverish, thee to give.

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See also Philemon 1:20 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    YEA, BROTHER, LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE IN THE LORD - “By showing me this favor in receiving my friend and brother as I request.” The phrase “in the Lord,” here seems to mean that, if this request was g...

  • 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

    THE REQUEST ON BEHALF OF ONESIMUS. Paul might confidently presume to issue commands to Philemon Paul an ambassador, and at the time of writing actually a prisoner, of Christ Jesus but for love's sake...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    If he has done you any damage or owes you anything, put it down to my account. I, Paul, write with my own hand--I will repay it, not to mention to you that you owe your very self to me. Yes, my brothe...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LET ME HAVE JOY. may. profit Greek. _oninemi_, the root-word from which comes _onesimos_ "Let me have profit from thee. seeing. em sending back Onesimus (profitable) to thee. " THE LORD. The texts re...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Yea_ So (in the Greek) Matthew 15:27; Philippians 4:3. _brother_ Again the word of love and honour, as in Philemon 1:7. _let me have joy of thee_ We may render, less warmly, "Let me reap benefit of...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    8–20. _The Request _...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΝΑΊ. In Philippians 4:3 it similarly “introduces an affectionate appeal.” Possibly it = “yes, you owe so much.” But far better as accepting the situation (Matthew 11:26) that he has proposed. It thus...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΝΑΊ (G3483) да. ΌΝΑΊΜΗΝ _aor._ opt. _med. (dep.) от_ ΌΝΊΝΗΜΙ (G3685) пользоваться, иметь выгоду. Opt. здесь выражает пожелание; используется в обороте: "да получу я радость, пользу или выгоду" а лицо...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    YEA, BROTHER,— The word 'Αναπαυσον, rendered _refresh,_ is very emphatical; it literally signifies to _appease,_ or _quiet;_ which strongly intimates the emotion which the apostle felt, through the ar...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    20. YEA, BROTHER, LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE IN THE LORD: REFRESH MY HEART IN CHRIST. a. Paul's appeal closes on a positive note: Yes, my brother, I wish to receive help from you in the Lord. Philemon's...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. LET ME - `let me [emphatic: egoo (G1473) sou (G4675)] have profit [ onaimeen (G3685), referring to the name Onesimus,...

  • 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

    (20) LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE. — Properly, _may I have pleasure,_ or _profit, from thee_: a phrase used especially of the mingled pleasure and help derived from children. (See Dr. Lightfoot’s Note on t...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (8-20) Here St. Paul enters on the main subject of his Letter — the recommendation to Philemon of his runaway slave, Onesimus. All thoughtful readers of the Epistle must recognise in this a peculiar c...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 5 Philemon 1:20 (R.V.) We have already had occasion to point out that Paul's pleading with Philemon, and the motives which he adduces, are expressions, on a lower level, of the greatest princ...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ναί : _cf._ Philippians 4:3, ναὶ ἐρωτῶ καὶ σέ. ἀδελφέ : an affectionate appeal, _cf._ Galatians 3:15; Galatians 6:1-18. ἐγώ : “The emphatic ἐγώ identifies the cause of Onesimus with his own” (Lightfoo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    TO BE RECEIVED AS A BROTHER Philemon 1:15 The Apostle's pleas for the restoration of Onesimus to his old trusted position in the household of Philemon are very touching. He suggests, first, that ther...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PHILEMON ENCOURAGED Remember, Paul considered Philemon to be a fellow worker, or partner, in the spreading of the gospel (verse 1). On the basis of such a partnership, Philemon should have been ready...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (i) Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. (i) Good brother let me obtain this benefit at your hand....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Yea, brother: may I enjoy thee in the Lord, enjoy the fruits of thy friendship and love for me, and rejoice with thee. In this refresh my bowels in the Lord, grant me this satisfaction. I have written...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, (9) Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    20_Yea, brother_. This affirmation is used in order to increase the ardor of the exhortation; as if he had said — “Now shall it be clearly proved that there hath been no variance between thee and me,...

  • 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

    YEA, BROTHER, LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE IN THE LORD,.... Through the apostle was his spiritual father, having been the instrument of his conversion, yet he calls him his brother, as being a partaker of...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. Ver. 20. _Yea, brother, let me have joy_] οναιμην, or benefit by thee; an elegant allusion it is in the original to t...

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

    _If thou count me therefore a partner_ Κοινωνον, _a companion_, one having fellowship with thee in Christ, or a sharer with thee in the blessings of the gospel, the dearest bond of friendship; _receiv...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    BROTHER; not merely because they were both men of one common human family, but because they were both united to Christ. REFRESH MY BOWELS; give me great joy....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    YEA, BROTHER, LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE IN THE LORD; REFRESH MY BOWELS IN THE LORD. The apostle here adds a thought as though it had just occurred to him: For perhaps he for this reason departed for a w...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    ANOTHER POINT URGED BY THE APOSTLE....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-22 When we speak of the nature of any sin or offence against God, the evil of it is not to be lessened; but in a penitent sinner, as God covers it, so must we. Such changed characters often become...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; YEA, BROTHER: the particle nai is used in swearing, affirming, persuading, entreating, the latter seemeth here most proper; as much as, of all love, brother. LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE IN THE LOR...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Philemon 1:20 Yes G3483 brother G80 let G3685 me G1473 joy G3685 (G5636) you G4675 in G1722 Lord...

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

    Philemon 1:20. YEA, BROTHER, LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE IN THE LORD. In this verse St. Paul apparently makes playful allusion to the name of Onesimus. He employs the Greek verb from which that name is de...

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

    _The Apostle's Petition and Arguments in support of it,_ vv. 8-22. St. Paul lays aside any claim which he might have been bold to make, and entreats that Onesimus may be taken back again. He makes thi...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    LET ME HAVE JOY OF THEE (εγω σου οναιμην). Second aorist middle optative of ονινημ, old verb, only here in N.T. Optative the regular construction for a wish about the future. "May I get profit from...

  • 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

    PLEASE DO ME THIS FAVOR. By cheerfully doing what I ask....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let me have joy of thee in the lord--In that thou doest what thou doest through the grace of Christ, through His dwelling in thee, and particularly thou imitatest Him in the breaking of bonds and fre...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILEMON—NOTE ON PHILEMON 1:8 Paul’s Appeal to Philemon for Onesimus. Paul makes his appeal by first describing the remarkable change that has happened to Onesimus (vv. Philem

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILEMON—NOTE ON PHILEMON 1:20 REFRESH MY HEART IN CHRIST. See note on v. 12. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Philemon 1:20. LET ME HAVE JOY.—The apostle appeals to what has been a customary thing with Philemon (Philemon 1:7). The verb is at the root of the name Onesimus. Phi...

  • 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

    2 Corinthians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 7:4; Philippians 2:2; Philippians 4:1;...

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

    Yea [ν α ι]. A confirmatory particle, gathering up the whole previous intercession for Onesimus. So Matthew 11:26. even so; Rev., yea. Luke 11:51, verily; Rev., yea. Luke 12:5, yea. Let me have joy [ο...

  • 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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Refresh my bowels in Christ — Give me the most exquisite and Christian pleasure....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. pathetic repetition of our apostle's former petition, with the force and strength of. fresh and additional argument. Thus, "O my brother, that which revives me in. prison, and refresh...

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