because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
Paul opens his letter to Philemon with a report, not an appeal: news has reached him in prison about the kind of man Philemon is. Before he mentions Onesimus, the runaway slave, he thanks God for Philemon's love and faith — and their order and direction shape the whole letter.
Thanksgiving Before Appeal
Paul first names what God has already done in the man he is about to ask a hard favour of. One writer sees a habit here, and a lesson:
W. W. FeredayHe gratefully recognises all the good in his dear brother... We may always notice this gracious way in Paul's letters. Where there was much to blame, if he could see anything of Christ, he was glad to own it and gave thanks. That is an important lesson for our souls to learn in the school of God today. So much grieves the spirit and draws out our protests and rebukes. As a result, we are apt to overlook the measure of the Spirit's fruit that is really there.
Love Named First
Elsewhere Paul names faith before love. Here he turns the order around:
William KellyIn verse 5 love came before faith, which is an unusual order (compare Ephesians 1 and Colossians 1).
One writer suggests a fellow worker brought the news, and links the order of the words to Paul's aim:
Leslie M. GrantIt may have been Epaphras who told Paul about Philemon's love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints (compare Colossians 1:7-8). But such news refreshed Paul's heart. Perhaps love is mentioned first because it was this that Paul was really appealing to in this letter.
Two Directions, Two Words
Older English translations use "towards" twice here. The Greek does not repeat the same word, and the difference matters:
Truth & TestimonyA change of preposition happens. The first is "pros", towards, indicating an object. The second is "eis", unto. The use of the two words emphasises the difference in relationship. Philemon's response to Christ reaches out through Him to his fellow believers. It was not an ordinary love, but it had its origin in faith in Christ.
Faith at the Root, Love in Action
Faith and love are not two separate achievements here. One works inside the other:
Numerical Bible NotesIt was faith that worked in this love and gave it its Christian reality. So faith found its special objects in the saints.
Even at a distance Philemon's love kept showing itself, and his name matched it:
Arthur E. GoodwinPaul had probably not seen Philemon for a long time, but he kept hearing of his love and of his faith. Divine love is active, and here we see it at work in Philemon. He had a love for the saints as well as a love for sinners. His name means "friendly" or "attached", and one translator gives its meaning as "one who kisses". Philemon lived up to his name. He showed that he was living in the truth of 1 John 3:14: "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers."
Who "All the Saints" Are
The word translated "saints" is not a title for a special few. It describes every believer:
Morrish Bible DictionaryIn the New Testament the word used is hagios, which means "holy one." A saint is one set apart for God... So saints are a distinct, recognised class of people belonging to God — His saints... All Christians are included in this class, so that the apostle could speak of "all saints."
Philemon's love had found that company as its home:
The Christian's FriendGrace had opened his heart, and he found a circle to which it could go out — the saints of God.
Testing the Word "All"
Paul's praise is also a test. Onesimus must fit inside the word "all":
William KellyPhilemon was about to be tested — would his love stand true toward all the saints?
The test is real: the newest member of that circle is the man who wronged him:
W. W. FeredayOnesimus was now a saint; would he love him? It is not easy to love those who have done us real harm, yet nothing less is according to Christ. This loving recognition of grace in Philemon is the basis of this letter.
Summary
- Report — News about Philemon reached Paul in prison. He turned it into thanks to God before he turned it into an appeal.
- Root — Faith toward the Lord Jesus makes this love real and Christian. Without it, the affection would be ordinary kindness.
- Reach — The Greek uses two different words here. Love goes to Christ, then travels on through Him to His people.
- Range — "Saints" means every believer set apart for God. That is why Paul can say "all". A love that picks favourites has not reached that word.
- Test — Onesimus is now inside the circle of "all the saints". Paul's praise in verse 5 becomes the ground of his appeal.