Philemon Chapter 1 verse 7 Holy Bible
For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
read chapter 1 in ASV
For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.
read chapter 1 in BBE
For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
read chapter 1 in DARBY
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
read chapter 1 in KJV
read chapter 1 in WBT
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
read chapter 1 in WEB
for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
read chapter 1 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 7. - We have great joy and consolation. The preferable reading is, as in A, C, F, G, N, and Revised Version, I had much joy and comfort (see Ver. 5). "Plenius inculcat et edocet, quare dixerit, gratias ago," etc. (Jerome). The bowels of the saints; hearts (Revised Version). Either (1) their bodily wants, the cravings of their hunger; or (2) their hearts and affections, supplied and satisfied by the good deeds of Philemon. This is another peculiarly Pauline expression (see 2 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 7:15-these two are very similarly used in Vers. 7, 12, 20 - and three other places). "To refresh the bowels is (in Paul) to be taken as meaning a lightening of troubles, so that they may rest with minds free from all sorrow and annoyance" (Calvin). Brother. How persuasively the sentence is turned! An old commentator remarks, "Paul does not yet come to his request, but prepares and softens beforehand the mind of Philemon" (Scipio Gentilis). This course of proceeding is exactly what Quintilian prescribes to an advocate, "His velut fomentis, si quid erit asperum, praemolliemus, quo facilius aures judicum admittant" ('De Institut. Orat.,' 4:3).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) The bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee.--The same idea is here carried on. St. Paul declares his special joy to have been that "the bowels (i.e., the hearts) of the saints, have been refreshed through thee." The word "refresh" is the very word used by our Lord in His gracious promise: "Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you" (Matthew 11:28). It is ultimately in Him that the hearts of the saints are refreshed. But in this case it was through the instrumentality of Philemon, by "the communion of faith," to which his active love was the means of welcoming them, and in which they had fellowship in Christ, both with the Father and with His children. (Comp. 1John 1:3.) St. Paul uses the word "refresh" not unfrequently to express the relief and rest given by Christian fellowship on earth. (See below, Philemon 1:20; and comp. 1Corinthians 16:18; 2Corinthians 7:13.) We find it in the Apocalypse applied to the rest with Christ in heaven (Revelation 6:11; Revelation 14:13). . . .
