Philemon 1:7

7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.

Philemon 1:7 Meaning and Commentary

Philemon 1:7

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love
In the expressions and acts of it to the poor saints; for which reason the apostle gives thanks for it before; and it is a pleasure and comfort to an ingenuous mind, though it is not in his power to do good to the poor saints himself, to see that others have both abilities, and a heart to relieve them:

because the bowels of the saints are, refreshed by thee, brother;
meaning, not only that their bellies were filled with food, for the phrase is used in ( Philemon 1:20 ) where that cannot be intended; but their hearts were filled with gladness, the load upon their spirits, the pressures upon their minds were removed, and they had an inward pleasure in their souls, and rest, refreshment, and comfort, through the liberal communications of Philemon to them; who did what he did cheerfully, that so it did their souls good, as well as their bodies; and in doing which, he acted the part of a brother in Christ.

Philemon 1:7 In-Context

5 For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.

6 My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ.

7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.

8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done.

9 But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.