Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
Paul had heard by report of the love and faith directed toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints that belonged to Philemon. That is faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints. Having heard of that love and faith, he thanked God and made mention of Philemon always in his prayers.
Every good purpose and trait of character in Philemon was due to the grace of Christ. That grace alone made him different from the perverse and the sinful. The same grace can transform a sinful and debased person, even Onesimus, into a child of God and a useful laborer in the gospel.
Such love and faith toward the saints was exemplified when Paul reached Italy as a prisoner and was welcomed by the Christians of Italy. They had eagerly looked forward to his visit since receiving his letter to the Romans, and having been informed of his approach through constant communication between Puteoli and Rome a hundred and forty miles away, they started out to meet him. They entreated him to remain seven days, which was granted by permission of the centurion, and his coming as a prisoner and his sufferings endeared him to them the more.
Paul had heard by report of the love and faith directed toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints that belonged to Philemon. That is faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints. Having heard of that love and faith, he thanked God and made mention of Philemon always in his prayers.
Every good purpose and trait of character in Philemon was due to the grace of Christ. That grace alone made him different from the perverse and the sinful. The same grace can transform a sinful and debased person, even Onesimus, into a child of God and a useful laborer in the gospel.
Such love and faith toward the saints was exemplified when Paul reached Italy as a prisoner and was welcomed by the Christians of Italy. They had eagerly looked forward to his visit since receiving his letter to the Romans, and having been informed of his approach through constant communication between Puteoli and Rome a hundred and forty miles away, they started out to meet him. They entreated him to remain seven days, which was granted by permission of the centurion, and his coming as a prisoner and his sufferings endeared him to them the more.