Philemon 1 · Verse 5

Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Philemon 1:5, King James Version

Philemon 1:5 in other translations

BSBbecause I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
WEBhearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
ASVhearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
YLThearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
DARBYhearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints,
BBEHearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;
WebsterHearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all saints;

What does Philemon 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. Hearing--the ground of his thanksgiving. It is a delicate mark of authenticity, that he says "hearing" as to churches and persons whom he had not seen or then visited. Now Colosse, Philemon's place of residence, he had never yet seen. Yet Phm 19 here implies that Philemon was his convert. Philemon, doubtless, was converted at Ephesus, or in some other place where he met Paul. love and faith--The theological order is first faith then love, the fruit of faith. But he purposely puts Philemon's love in the first place, as it is to an act of love that he is exhorting him. toward ... toward--different Greek words: "towards" ... "unto." Towards implies simply direction; unto, to the advantage of.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Hearing of thy love and faith. Either by Onesimus, who, after his conversion, would be disposed to state all that he knew that was favourable of Philemon, or hearing it by some other persons who had come from Colosse to Rome. The faith which is mentioned here refers to the Lord Jesus; the love, to the saints. The order in the Greek is indeed the same as in our version, but it is not unusual by synthesis, or uniting two or more things together, to arrange words in that manner. Thus Mt 12:22; "The blind and dumb both spake and saw;" that is, the blind saw, and the dumb spake. The meaning is, that he had strong faith in the Lord Jesus, and ardent love towards all who were Christians. See a similar declaration in Col 1:4.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Hearing of thy love and faith - His faith in Christ Jesus, his love to the saints. Several excellent MSS. and some versions put faith before love, which makes a more natural reading. There is no figure of speech which would vindicate our saying faith in the saints; so that, if we do not allow of the arrangement in the MSS. referred to, we shall be obliged to have recourse to the transposition, because faith must refer to Jesus Christ, and love to the saints.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Philemon 1:1-7

Faith in Christ, and love to him, should unite saints more closely than any outward relation can unite the people of the world. Paul in his private prayers was particular in remembering his friends. We must remember Christian friends much and often, as their cases may need, bearing them in our thoughts, and upon our hearts, before our God. Different sentiments and ways in what is not essential, must not make…

Read the full comment on Philemon 1:1-7 →

Philemon 1:5 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.

ἀκούωνakouōnhearingG191
σουsouof yourG4771
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ἀγάπηνagapēnloveG26
καὶkaiandG2532
τὴνtēntheG3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ἣνhēnthatG3739
ἔχειςecheisyou haveG2192
πρὸςprostowardG4314
τὸνtontheG3588
κύριονkurionLordG2962
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
καὶkaiandG2532
εἰςeistowardG1519
πάνταςpantasallG3956
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἁγίους,hagioussaints,G40

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

Cross references for Philemon 1:5

  • Colossians 1:4

    Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

  • Ephesians 1:15

    Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

  • Psalms 16:3

    But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

  • 1 John 5:1-2

    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:1

    Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

  • Romans 12:13

    Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

  • Galatians 5:6

    For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

  • Philemon 1:7

    For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

  • 1 John 3:23

    And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

  • Romans 15:25-26

    But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

  • Acts 9:39-41

    Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Hearing.
Ga 5:6; Eph 1:15; Col 1:4
toward the Lord.
7; Ps 16:3; Ac 9:39-41; Ro 12:13; 15:25,26; 1Co 16:1; 1Jo 3:23; 5:1,2

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

Context

  • Philemon 1:4

    I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

  • Philemon 1:5

    Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

  • Philemon 1:6

    That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Read all of Philemon 1

Philemon 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Oyendo tu caridad, y la fe que tienes en el Señor Jesús, y para con todos los santos;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
apprenant l’amour et la foi que tu as envers le seigneur Jésus et pour tous les saints;
German
Elberfelder 1871
da ich höre von deiner Liebe und von dem Glauben, den du an den Herrn Jesus und zu allen Heiligen hast,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
audiens caritatem tuam, et fidem, quam habes in Domino Jesu, et in omnes sanctos: