The Meaning of Philemon 1:25 Explained

Philemon 1:25

KJV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

YLT: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit! Amen.

Darby: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

ASV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The grace  of our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  [be] with  your  spirit.  Amen.  {{[Written from  Rome  to  Philemon,  by  Onesimus  a servant.  ]}} 

What does Philemon 1:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The final benediction is typical of Paul. The "your" is plural in the Greek text and refers to the whole church in Philemon"s house. This is the only occurrence of pneuma ("spirit") in the epistle, and it clearly refers to the human spirit.
What happened as a result of this letter? Did Philemon forgive Onesimus? We have no direct record of his response to this letter. However the fact that Philemon preserved this epistle and allowed it to circulate among the churches strongly suggests that he did behave as Paul had requested. In Colossians 4:9 Paul referred to Onesimus as "our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number," which would have encouraged reception of him in Colossae. According to Christian tradition Onesimus later became bishop of Ephesus. [1] However, another Onesimus may have been this bishop. [2] Later church legends also identified Philemon as a bishop of Colossae. [3]
Paul"s bringing pressures of various kinds to bear on Philemon to respond as he requested, while verbally appealing in humble terms, has created problems for some students of this epistle. Was Paul being manipulative? Was he guilty of emotional blackmail? I do not think so. It would have been obvious to Philemon , as it is to us, that Paul definitely wanted a certain response to this letter. Nevertheless it would have been equally clear that Paul was making his appeal on the basis of love rather than apostolic authority. Motivation promotes the self-interest of the hearer, but manipulation promotes the self-interest of the speaker.
"Those who see in Paul"s earlier appeal a form of emotional manipulation should also acknowledge here [4] that Paul in effect confesses his vulnerability and complete dependence on Philemon"s goodwill. In the social relationships of a church existing in an unequal society there is a particular responsibility on the part of the powerful to act toward others in a spirit of goodness rather than standing on their rights." [5]
It is not inconsistent with love to motivate by pointing out obligations, opportunities, and consequences. [6]

Context Summary

Philemon 1:15-25 - To Be Received As A Brother
The Apostle's pleas for the restoration of Onesimus to his old trusted position in the household of Philemon are very touching. He suggests, first, that there may have been a divine purpose in it all, and that the former's flight had been permitted as a step in the entire renovation of the slave's nature. And, therefore, because Philemon and Onesimus were two Christians, their relationship had been transformed. "In the flesh, Philemon has the brother for his slave; in the Lord, Philemon has the slave for his brother." Then in Philemon 1:17 Paul identifies himself with Onesimus; and we are taught to think of our Lord identifying Himself with us, because, as Luther says, "we are all Onesimuses." Further, in Philemon 1:18 Paul offers to assume all the losses which Onesimus had brought on Philemon, and signs the bond with his autograph, as our Lord paid the great ransom price for us all. Finally, Paul delicately reminds his friend, in Philemon 1:19, that Philemon owed him a great deal more than a trifle of money, namely, his spiritual life. Does not our Lord address us in similar terms? We surely owe ourselves to Him!
Owing to the brevity of this Epistle Review Questions are omitted [source]

Chapter Summary: Philemon 1

1  Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon,
8  whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again

Greek Commentary for Philemon 1:25

Grace [η χαρις]
This great word occurred in the greeting (Philemon 1:3) as it does in the farewell.sa120 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Philemon 1:25

Galatians 6:18 The grace, etc. []
The same form of benediction occurs Philemon 1:25. [source]
Galatians 5:22 Joy [χαρά]
Comp. joy of the Holy Ghost, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, and see Romans 5:2; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 6:10; Philemon 1:25; Philemon 4:4; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 1:4. [source]
Galatians 6:18  []
The farewell salutation is much briefer than that in2 Corinthians 13:13, but identical with that inPhilemon 1:25. He calls them “brethren” (αδελποι — adelphoi) in spite of the sharp things spoken to them.sa120 [source]
1 Timothy 4:15 Give thyself wholly to them [εν τουτοις ιστι]
Present imperative second person singular of ειμι — eimi “keep on in these things.” Note five uses of εν — en in 1 Timothy 4:12 and three datives in 1 Timothy 4:14. Plutarch (Pomp. 656 B) says Caesar was εν τουτοις — en toutois (“in these things”). It is like our “up to his ears” in work Koiné{[28928]}š word from προκοπτω — prokoptō to cut forward, to blaze the way, in N.T. only here and Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:25. Paul‘s concern (purpose, ινα — hina and present subjunctive ηι — ēi of ειμι — eimi) is that Timothy‘s “progress” may be “manifest to all.” It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him. [source]
1 Timothy 4:15 Thy progress [σου η προκοπη]
Koiné{[28928]}š word from προκοπτω — prokoptō to cut forward, to blaze the way, in N.T. only here and Philemon 1:12, Philemon 1:25. Paul‘s concern (purpose, ινα — hina and present subjunctive ηι — ēi of ειμι — eimi) is that Timothy‘s “progress” may be “manifest to all.” It is inspiring to see a young preacher grow for then the church will grow with him. [source]
Hebrews 7:23 Many in number [πλειονες]
Comparative predicate adjective, “more than one,” in succession, not simultaneously. Because they are hindered Articular infinitive (present passive) with δια — dia and the accusative case, “because of the being hindered.” By death Instrumental case. From continuing Present active infinitive of the compound (remain beside) as in Philemon 1:25 and in the ablative case. [source]
James 1:25 The perfect law [νομον τελειον]
For τελειον — teleion see James 1:17. See Romans 7:12 for Paul‘s idea of the law of God. James here refers to the word of truth (James 1:18), the gospel of grace (Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:2).The law of liberty (τον της ελευτεριας — ton tēs eleutherias). “That of liberty,” explaining why it is “perfect” (James 2:12 also), rests on the work of Christ, whose truth sets us free (John 8:32; 2 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:2).And so continueth First aorist active articular participle again of παραμενω — paramenō parallel with παρακυπσας — parakupsas Παραμενω — Paramenō is to stay beside, and see Philemon 1:25 for contrast with the simplex μενω — menō Rather, “having become” (second aorist middle participle of γινομαι — ginomai to become).Not a hearer that forgetteth (ουκ ακροατης επιλησμονης — ouk akroatēs epilēsmonēs). “Not a hearer of forgetfulness” (descriptive genitive, marked by forgetfulness). Επιλησμονη — Epilēsmonē is a late and rare word (from επιλησμων — epilēsmōn forgetful, from επιλαντομαι — epilanthomai to forget, as in James 1:24), here only in N.T.But a doer that worketh “But a doer of work,” a doer marked by work (descriptive genitive εργου — ergou), not by mere listening or mere talk.In his doing (εν τηι ποιησει αυτου — en tēi poiēsei autou). Another beatitude with μακαριος — makarios as in James 1:12, like the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. Ποιησις — Poiēsis is an old word (from ποιεω — poieō for the act of doing), only here in N.T. [source]
James 1:25 And so continueth [και παραμεινας]
First aorist active articular participle again of παραμενω — paramenō parallel with παρακυπσας — parakupsas Παραμενω — Paramenō is to stay beside, and see Philemon 1:25 for contrast with the simplex μενω — menō Rather, “having become” (second aorist middle participle of γινομαι — ginomai to become).Not a hearer that forgetteth (ουκ ακροατης επιλησμονης — ouk akroatēs epilēsmonēs). “Not a hearer of forgetfulness” (descriptive genitive, marked by forgetfulness). Επιλησμονη — Epilēsmonē is a late and rare word (from επιλησμων — epilēsmōn forgetful, from επιλαντομαι — epilanthomai to forget, as in James 1:24), here only in N.T.But a doer that worketh “But a doer of work,” a doer marked by work (descriptive genitive εργου — ergou), not by mere listening or mere talk.In his doing (εν τηι ποιησει αυτου — en tēi poiēsei autou). Another beatitude with μακαριος — makarios as in James 1:12, like the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. Ποιησις — Poiēsis is an old word (from ποιεω — poieō for the act of doing), only here in N.T. [source]

What do the individual words in Philemon 1:25 mean?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with the spirit of you Amen
χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν ⧼Ἀμήν⧽

χάρις  grace 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Κυρίου  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Χριστοῦ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
μετὰ  [be]  with 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
πνεύματος  spirit 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
⧼Ἀμήν⧽  Amen 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.

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