Philemon 1:4

Philemon's Love and Faith

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers,

Philemon 1:4 Meaning and Commentary

Philemon 1:4

I thank my God
Meaning on account, of Philemon, for the grace bestowed upon him, thereafter mentioned; (See Gill on Romans 1:8) making other saints, ( Romans 1:9 ) ( Ephesians 1:16 ) ( Philippians 1:3 Philippians 1:4 ) ( Colossians 1:3 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ) , the apostle was a man much in prayer, frequent at the throne of grace; and he prayed not for himself only, but for all the saints, for all the churches and ministers of the Gospel; whom he not only bore upon his mind and heart, but made mention of them, it may be by name; however, he remembered them, and put up petitions, with thanksgivings, for them; and so he did for Philemon; and which he takes notice of with the same view as before: the word, "always", is so placed in the original text, as to be put either to his thanks to God, or his prayers, and may be true of both; the Syriac and Arabic versions join it to the former; and the Vulgate Latin and the Ethiopic versions place it to the latter.

Philemon 1:4 In-Context

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.

6 [I pray] that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for [the glory of] Christ.