Bible Strands
Philemon 1:7
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Philemon, a fellow believer and household master, while imprisoned. He states this between praying for Philemon's effective faith and preparing to exercise apostolic authority over him.
The words — χαρὰν (charan) literally means "joy," and παράκλησιν (paraklēsin) translates as "encouragement." Paul declares he has received both because Philemon's love has refreshed the saints.
The thread — The connection between a brother's faithful action and the writer's joy appears in 2 Corinthians 7:13, 2 Corinthians 7:4, and 1 Thessalonians 3:9. These passages record how communal faithfulness generates spiritual refreshment for the apostolic circle.
Why it lands — The text establishes that love must actively refresh believers to produce genuine encouragement. A reader must accept that tangible care for the saints, not abstract devotion, is the basis for apostolic joy and instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 7:13 On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
- 2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19 After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- Philemon 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
- 3 John 1:3 For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- 2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
- 2 John 1:4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.