Philemon 1:13 BSB — MannaFest

Philemon 1:13

I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

KJV

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

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Commentary

3 voices

Jerome

Commentary on Philemon (420)

And at the same time we admire the magnanimity of the apostle and his fervent mind in Christ. He is held in prison, is bound in chains, is oppressed by the filth of his body, by separation from his loved ones, is cramped by penal darkness, and yet he feels no wrong, he is not tortured by pain, he knows nothing else but to think about the Gospel of Christ. He knew the slave, he knew the fugitive, he knew that he had been converted to the faith of Christ by a kidnapper.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Observe, Good deeds are most acceptable to God and man when done with most freedom. And Paul herein, notwithstanding his apostolical power, would show what regard he had to civil rights, which Christianity does by no means supersede or weaken, but rather confirm and strengthen.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead - “That he might render me the service which I know you would if you were here.” The Greek is: “for thee” ὑπὲρ σοῦ huper sou; that is, what he should do for Paul might be regarded as done by Philemon himself. He might have ministered unto me - He might have rendered me assistance (διακονῇ diakonē); to wit, in such a way as one who was in bonds would need.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

I would have retained--different Greek from the "would," Phm 14, "I could have wished," "I was minded" here; but "I was not willing," Phm 14. in thy stead--that he might supply in your place all the services to me which you, if you were here, would render in virtue of the love you bear to me (Phm 19). bonds of the gospel--my bonds endured for the Gospel's sake (Phm 9).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

16 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ὃν	hon	whom	G3739 →
ἐγὼ	egō	I myself	G1473 →
ἐβουλόμην	eboulomēn	was wishing	G1014 →
πρὸς	pros	with	G4314 →
ἐμαυτὸν	emauton	myself	G1473 →
κατέχειν,	katechein	to keep,	G2722 →
ἵνα	ina	so that	G2443 →
ὑπὲρ	huper	on behalf of	G5228 →
σοῦ	sou	you	G4771 →
μοι	moi	me	G3165 →
διακονῇ	diakonēa	he may serve	G1247 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
τοῖς	tois	the	G3588 →
δεσμοῖς	desmois	chains	G1199 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
εὐαγγελίου·	euangeliou	gospel;	G2098 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

G5228huperon behalf of155×

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
leads to
- Colossians 1:10
  so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Philippians 1:27
  Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12
  encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2
  Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live,…
- 2 Peter 1:3
  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Through
Philippians 1:7
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you…
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
  I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
- Philippians 1:5
  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Through
Ephesians 3:1
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
leads to
- Colossians 1:24
  Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

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About Philemon

The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Philemon: the study guide →Read chapter 1 →The featured study →

Continue: Philemon 1 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Philemon

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Philemon