Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Philemon 1:6 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 6. 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Paul prays that Philemon's participation in faith will become effective in recognizing and enacting the good bound up with Christ.
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
Paul moves from describing Philemon's character to praying that his participation in faith will become effective in practiced good.
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.
Follow the Context
- Paul continually thanks God and remembers Philemon in prayer.
- He has heard of Philemon's love and faith in relation to the Lord Jesus and all the saints.
- He prays that the participation or sharing of Philemon's faith will become effective in knowing the good found in Christ.
- Philemon's love has already brought Paul joy because believers' hearts have been refreshed through him.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“communication of thy faith”
In plain language: The phrase concerns participation or sharing connected to Philemon's faith.
The surrounding thanksgiving emphasizes active fellowship and refreshing the saints, though the syntax supports several responsible readings.
Why it matters: It prevents the older English word 'communication' from being reduced to speech or media.
How certain? strong“every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus”
In plain language: Paul links effective participation, knowledge of good, and Christ.
The pronoun is textually disputed between 'you' and 'us,' and the final relation to Christ is syntactically difficult.
Why it matters: It preserves the prayer's center while leaving its exact construction uncertain.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
This verse does not guarantee material blessing, define 'communication' as modern messaging, or settle its difficult syntax with one unsupported slogan.
What Remains True
Participation in faith is meant to become effective in a growing recognition and practice of the good found in relation to Christ.
How It Can Shape Life
- Make shared faith tangible through informed, generous participation while admitting where a difficult sentence does not support a single simplistic program.
Teach It Back
Explain Philemon 1:6's exact contribution to Philemon 1:4–7. Include the surrounding movement, the material power relation where relevant, one uncertainty, and what this verse does not say.
Your explanation stays in this browser. It is not sent or saved.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Philemon 1:4–7 — Thanksgiving Prepares an Appeal to Practiced LoveSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The verse has difficult syntax and a textual choice between 'in you' and 'in us.' Participation in shared faith and effective recognition of good in relation to Christ are secure centers; the exact construction is not.
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 ↗