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Philemon 4-7
New Catholic Bible
Philemon 4-7
New Catholic Bible
Thanksgiving and Prayer.[a] 4 I always give thanks to my God when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of the love and faith that you have for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.[b] 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become even more effective so that you may come to perceive all the blessings we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and encouragement because the hearts[c] of the saints have been refreshed by you, my brother.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Philemon 1:4 Recalling his friend’s love and faith, Paul prays that Philemon’s active participation in the Christian faith will be increased as a result of the latter’s perception of God’s great goodness to both of them. He is implying what he makes specific elsewhere—that good works are the result of a mature knowledge of the faith (see Col 1:9f). In this case, Philemon’s Christian maturity will lead to the beneficial treatment of Onesimus at his hands.
- Philemon 1:5 Saints: all the faithful are “saints” in virtue of their consecration to Christ.
- Philemon 1:7 Hearts: literally, “intestines,” the part of the body that was considered to house the emotions of pity and love (see vv. 12, 20).
