I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
Paul writes to Philemon with a hard thing to ask: take back Onesimus, the man who had wronged him. Before he asks, he gives thanks to God and speaks of his own praying.
Prayer that was personal and regular
Paul says "my God" and "my prayers" (an older translation reads "at my prayers"). One writer shows what that small word reveals about how he prayed:
Truth & TestimonyPaul's use of the word "my" tells us something about the relationship he enjoyed with God. The way he uses this word elsewhere in his letters shows that Paul knew his God personally. For him prayer was not reading set words from a book, or learning a few well-chosen lines by heart. Prayer was the vital experience of fellowship with his God and Saviour. The phrase "at my prayers" points to a settled, definite, daily habit. These were not occasional requests, said only when something went wrong.
Thanks before asking
Paul had something to ask, yet he thanks first. Writers point out that this order runs through his letters and is worth copying:
Leslie M. GrantAs in other cases, thanksgiving to God comes before Paul's prayers for Philemon. It is healthy for us to always remember this order.
One writer notes what those thanks do for the rest of the letter:
William KellyFrom verse 4 he lays the ground for his appeal with thanksgiving.
Named, not lumped in
Paul does not pray for Christians in general. He names this one man, and that leaves a question for us:
Arthur E. GoodwinIn verse 4 he thanks God for Philemon and mentions him in his prayers. What an example the apostle is to all of us! How often do we pray for people by name — those we know who need God's help? Or do we lean on one general prayer that covers everyone?
Thanks for the good in another believer
Paul thanks God, not Philemon, for the good he sees in his friend. And the love he thanks God for is the very thing Philemon will soon have to show:
W. W. FeredayAfter his usual greeting of grace and peace, the apostle's heart overflows with thanksgiving to God. He thankfully recognises all the good in his dear brother… We can see this gracious way all through Paul's letters. Where there was much to blame, if he could see anything of Christ, he owned it with joy and gave thanks. That is an important lesson for our souls to learn from God today. So much grieves the spirit and draws out our protests and rebukes that we easily overlook how much fruit of the Spirit is really there. Philemon's love for all the saints was about to face a hard test. Onesimus was now a saint; would he love him? It is not easy to love those who have really wronged us, yet Christ asks for nothing less.
Others note that what moved Paul was not a bright beginning but a walk that kept going:
Truth & TestimonyThe news that Philemon kept on in love and faith caused deep thanksgiving to God. How it encouraged the apostle when believers kept going in the things of God! We often see a bright start, then an unsteady walk, and then it stops altogether. Paul owns with thanksgiving what God had done in Philemon's life, but he also prays that Philemon's faith might show itself in practical power.
Settled with God first
The order matters here. Paul took this to God before he wrote a word of it to Philemon:
The Bible TreasuryThe love and faith of one believer drew out thanksgiving from the apostle to God. Often his soul had other exercises — deep humbling before God because of the way some walked. But here was something that glorified God. The apostle longed to see that love and that faith grow. Yet he had spread this desire before God before he mentioned it to Philemon. And he mentions it in a way that brings Philemon's soul straight before God.
Summary
- My God. The word "my" marks real fellowship, not recited words. Prayer was Paul's daily habit, not an emergency measure.
- My prayers. Paul names Philemon rather than praying one general prayer for everyone. Do we pray for people by name?
- Thanks first. Paul gives thanks before he asks. That order is worth keeping, and here it lays the ground for his whole appeal.
- Credit to God. Paul thanks God for the good in another believer. He owns any trace of Christ, even where much grieves him.
- God before man. Paul spread his desire before God before he mentioned it to Philemon. Then he wrote in a way that brought Philemon straight before God too.