Philemon 1 · Verse 23

Philemon 1:23

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Philemon 1:23, King James Version

Philemon 1:23 in other translations

BSBEpaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
WEBEpaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
ASVEpaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;
YLTSalute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,)
DARBYEpaphras salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;
BBEEpaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;
WebsterThere salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;

What does Philemon 1:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. The same persons send salutations in the accompanying Epistle, except that "Jesus Justus" is not mentioned here. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner--He had been sent by the Colossian Church to inquire after, and minister to, Paul, and possibly was cast into prison by the Roman authorities on suspicion. However, he is not mentioned as a prisoner in Col 4:12, so that "fellow prisoner" here may mean merely one who was a faithful companion to Paul in his imprisonment, and by his society put himself in the position of a prisoner. So also "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner," Col 4:10, may mean. Benson conjectures the meaning to be that on some former occasion these two were Paul's "fellow prisoners," not at the time.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. There salute thee Epaphras. The same persons who are here mentioned as greeting Philemon, are mentioned in the close of the epistle to the Colossians--furnishing a high degree of evidence that Philemon resided at Colosse. Epaphras was a member of the church there. Col 4:12.

My fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus. In the cause of Christ. Phm 1:1. The circumstance of his being a prisoner is not mentioned in the parallel place in the epistle to the Colossians, but nothing is more probable.

(e) "Epaphras" Col 1:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner - Epaphras was a Colossian, as we learn from Col 4:12 : Epaphras, who is one of you. But there is no account there of his being in prison, though the not mentioning of it does not necessarily imply that he was not. Some time or other he had suffered imprisonment for the truth of the Gospel; and on that account St. Paul might, in a general way, call him his fellow prisoner.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philemon 1:23-25
Never have believers found more enjoyment of God, than when suffering together for him. Grace is the best wish for ourselves and others; with this the apostle begins and ends. All grace is from Christ; he purchased, and he bestows it. What need we more to make us happy, than to have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with our spirit? Let us do that now, which we should do at the last breath. Then men are ready to renounce the world, and to prefer the least portion of grace and faith before a kingdom.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Philemon 1:23 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.

ἈσπάζεταίAspazetaiHe greetsG782
σεseyouG4771
ἘπαφρᾶςEpaphrasEpaphrasG1889
ὁho<the>G3588
συναιχμάλωτόςsunaichmalōtosfellow prisonerG4869
μουmouof mineG3165
ἐνeninG1722
ΧριστῷChristōChristG5547
Ἰησοῦ,IēsouJesus,G2424

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

Cross references for Philemon 1:23

  • Colossians 1:7

    As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

  • Colossians 4:12

    Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

  • Romans 16:7

    Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

  • Colossians 4:10

    Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Epaphras.
Col 1:7; 4:12
my fellow-prisoner.
Ro 16:7; Col 4:10

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

Context

  • Philemon 1:22

    But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

  • Philemon 1:23

    There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

  • Philemon 1:24

    Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Read all of Philemon 1

Philemon 1:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Te saludan Epafras, mi compañero en la prisión por Cristo Jesús,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Épaphras, mon compagnon de captivité dans le christ Jésus,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es grüßt dich Epaphras, mein Mitgefangener in Christo Jesu,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Salutat te Epaphras concaptivus meus in Christo Jesu,