Philemon 1 · Verse 13

Philemon 1:13

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

Philemon 1:13, King James Version

Philemon 1:13 in other translations

BSB	I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
WEB	whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
ASV	whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
YLT	whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,
DARBY	whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;
BBE	Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:
Webster	Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:

What does Philemon 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. I--emphatical. I for my part. Since I had such implicit trust in him as to desire to keep him with me for his services, thou mayest. I would have retained--different Greek from the "would," Phm 14, "I could have wished," "I was minded" here; but "I was not willing," Phm 14. in thy stead--that he might supply in your place all the services to me which you, if you were here, would render in virtue of the love you bear to me (Phm 19). bonds of the gospel--my bonds endured for the Gospel's sake (Phm 9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead. "That he might render me the service which I know you would if you were here." The Greek is, "for thee;" (υπερσου;) that is, what he should do for Paul might be regarded as done by Philemon himself.

He might have ministered unto me. He might have rendered me assistance, (διακονη;) to wit, in such a way as one who was in bonds would need.

(b) "that in thy stead" 1Cor 16:17, Php 2:30

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 That in thy stead he might have ministered unto me - As Philemon was one of Paul's converts, he became thereby his spiritual father, and had a right to his services when in need. This was a strong argument, not only to induce Philemon to forgive his servant, but to send him back to the apostle, that he might minister to him in his master's stead.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philemon 1:8-14

It does not lower any one to condescend, and sometimes even to beseech, where, in strictness of right, we might command: the apostle argues from love, rather than authority, in behalf of one converted through his means; and this was Onesimus. In allusion to that name, which signifies "profitable," the apostle allows that in time past he had been unprofitable to Philemon, but hastens to mention the change by which he…

Read the full comment on Philemon 1:8-14 →

Philemon 1:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὃνhonwhomG3739

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

ἐβουλόμηνeboulomēnwas wishingG1014

πρὸςproswithG4314

ἐμαυτὸνemautonmyselfG1473

κατέχειν,katecheinto keep,G2722

ἵναinaso thatG2443

ὑπὲρhuperon behalf ofG5228

σοῦsouyouG4771

μοιmoimeG3165

διακονῇdiakonēahe may serveG1247

ἐνeninG1722

τοῖςtoistheG3588

δεσμοῖςdesmoischainsG1199

τοῦtouof theG3588

εὐαγγελίου·euangeliougospel;G2098

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Philemon 1:13

Ephesians 3:1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Philippians 1:7
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
1 Corinthians 16:17
I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
Philippians 2:30
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Philemon 1:1
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

in thy stead.
1Co 16:17; Php 2:30
the bonds.
1; Eph 3:1; 4:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Philemon 1:12
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Philemon 1:13
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
Philemon 1:14
But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Read all of Philemon 1

Philemon 1:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Yo quisiera detenerle conmigo, para que en lugar de ti me sirviese en las prisiones del evangelio;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Moi, j’aurais voulu le retenir auprès de moi, afin qu’il me serve pour toi dans les liens de l’évangile;
German Elberfelder 1871	welchen ich bei mir behalten wollte, auf daß er statt deiner mir diene in den Banden des Evangeliums.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	quem ego volueram mecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis Evangelii: