Philemon 1:4
in Philemon 1I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,
KJV
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
⋯
This verse in Philemon 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThis, now not as Paul and Timothy, to Philemon and others; but as Paul alone, speaks only to Philemon: "I give thanks," he says, "always to my God, making mention of thee in my prayers." It is said ambiguously, whether he always gives thanks to his God, or whether he always mentions him in his prayers. And both can be understood. For whoever commands others to give thanks to God in all things, cannot be restricted by any difficulties to himself not to give thanks to God always.
This site's exposition
remembering you in my prayers
on Philemon 1:4-7
The thanksgiving records Philemon's love for all the saints: he has refreshed the hearts of the saints. The Greek splanchna, hearts, returns for Onesimus at verse 12 and for Paul at verse 20. Philemon is asked for what he is known for.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Now Paul shifts to his own voice alone [i.e., not speaking for Timothy and himself] and speaks solely to Philemon.
He does not immediately at the commencement ask the favor, but having first admired the man, and having praised him for his good actions, and having shown no small proof of his love, that he always made mention of him in his prayers, and having said that many are refreshed by him, and that he is obedient and complying in all things; then he puts it last of all, by this particularly putting him to the blush. For if others obtain the things which they ask, much more Paul. If coming before others, he was worthy to obtain, much more when he comes after others, and asks a thing not pertaining to himself, but in behalf of another. Then, that he may not seem to have written on this account only, and that no one may say, "If it were not for Onesimus thou wouldest not have written," see how he assigns other causes also of his Epistle. In the first place manifesting his love, then also desiring that a lodging may be prepared for him.
If ever "I" make "mention of you", I always do, "I give thanks to God" for you. Why? "Hearing of your love and faith", he says. Do you see that he does not immediately seek favor from the beginning? "hearing of your love". which, if …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Every time, he says, I remember you – and I remember you always when I pray – so many times I thank God for your virtue. What this virtue is, he explains further.
Then when he says, I give thanks to my God, the burden of the letter begins. First, he gives thanks; then he makes his plea, For this reason...; finally, he concludes, For I had great joy... Again, first he expresses thanks; second he gives the …
6 more voices on this verse
The Reformation1 voice
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 so good ground for congratulation as not to need prayers, that God may grant to them, not only to persevere till the end, but likewise to make progress from day to day.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
I thank my God,....
Paul, in his private thanksgivings and prayers, was often particular in remembering his friends: I thank my God, making mention of thee in my prayers; sometimes it may be by name, or at least having them particularly in his thoughts; and God knows who is meant, though not named. This is a means of exercising love, and obtaining good for others.
The apostle's thanksgiving and prayer for Philemon are here set forth by the object, circumstance, and matter of them, with the way whereby much of the knowledge of Philemon's goodness came to him. Here is the object of Paul's praises and prayers for Philemon: I thank my God, making mention of thee in my prayers,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
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 dost farther need.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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, Eph 1:16. It would appear from this that Paul, in his private devotions, was in the habit of mentioning churches and individuals by name. It would seem, also, that though he was a prisoner, yet he somehow found opportunity for secret devotion. And it would appear further, that, though encompassed with many cares and sorrows, and about to be put on trial for his life, he did not forget to remember a Christian brother though far distant from him, and to bear him on his heart before the throne of grace. To remember with affectionate concern these churches and individuals, as he did, Paul must have been a man of much prayer.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εὐχαριστῶ | eucharisto | I thank | G2168 → | |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεῷ | theo | God | G2316 → | |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| πάντοτε | pantote | always | G3842 → | |
| μνείαν | mneian | mention | G3417 → | |
| σου | sou | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ποιούμενος | poioumenos | making | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προσευχῶν | proseuchon | prayers | G4335 → | |
| μου, | mou | of mine, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ΕὐχαριστῶI thank
eucharistoG2168 →
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
θεῷGod
theoG2316 →
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
πάντοτεalways
pantoteG3842 →
μνείανmention
mneianG3417 →
σουof you
souG4771 →2973 times
ποιούμενοςmaking
poioumenosG4160 →569 times
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
προσευχῶνprayers
proseuchonG4335 →
μου,of mine,
mouG3165 →1936 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 1:3I thank my God every time I remember you.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:4
I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 1:3
I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 1:15–16
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3
We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
- 1 Corinthians 1:4
Through
1 Thessalonians 1:2We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
it leads to
- Romans 1:8–9
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 1:3
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 1:8–9
Through
Ephesians 1:16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
it leads to
- Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 1:9
Through
Colossians 1:3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Philemon
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Philemon; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Philemon 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Philemon and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philemon.