The Hearts Refreshed
4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Before asking Philemon for anything, Paul tells him truthfully what he already is — a man whose love has a track record.
The thanksgiving is no warm-up formality; it is evidence entered. Paul hears steadily of Philemon's love and faith, toward the Lord and toward all the saints. He prays that the sharing of that faith keep becoming effective, working outward into every good thing.
Verse 7 gives the concrete record: the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. The verb — anapauō G373 — is the one the Lord uses for what he gives the weary: I will give you rest Matthew 11:28. Philemon habitually does for the saints what Christ does for the burdened. Paul says so before asking him to do it once more. The word for hearts will return twice: for the man Paul is about to send, and in the request that closes the appeal Philemon 1:20. The praise of verse 7 is the letter quietly setting its terms. The man being asked has done this all his life; the ask will only be the next instance.
settled What this mark means