Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Philemon 1:5 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 5. 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Philemon's love and faith are described in relation to the Lord Jesus and all the saints, though the Greek coordination is compressed.
Love already practiced is being asked to go farther
This verse is one part of that explanation in Philemon 1:4–7. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- Philemon 1:4–7
Read Philemon 1:4–7 as a complete movement. Verses 4–7 move from thanksgiving to love and faith, a difficult prayer for active participation, and Philemon's proven history of refreshing believers' hearts before verse 8 says 'wherefore.'
Why This Verse Appears Here
This verse supplies the love and faith that explain Paul's thanksgiving and establish the qualities the later appeal will test.
Read Philemon 1:4–7 together
Why these verses belong together: Thanksgiving, prayer for active participation, love, and refreshed hearts jointly prepare the appeal introduced by 'wherefore' in verse 8.
Verse 4. 4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
Verse 5. 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Verse 6. 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Verse 7. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
What Remains True
Faith directed toward the Lord Jesus belongs with love enacted toward God's people.
How It Can Shape Life
- Test claims of faith by whether they produce concrete love across status differences, not merely religious language.
Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read Philemon 1:4–7 — Thanksgiving Prepares an Appeal to Practiced LoveSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact KJV wording and immediate English context for Philemon 1:4–7.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, Philemon 1:4–7; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, pronoun number, connective structure, and relevant lexical forms.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Phlm.txt, Phlm 1:4–7.
Open the Philemon Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Philemon with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, digital edition accessed 2026
Supports: Material translation choices, difficult syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible, Philemon 1, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 4–7.
Open NET Philemon 1 ↗modern annotated new testament
Philemon introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament, second edition
Barbara Geller; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2017
Supports: Modern historical and verse-level checks on authorship, setting, slavery, rhetoric, reconstruction limits, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: Barbara Geller, Philemon introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2nd ed., print pp. 403–404.
Open source ↗