Philemon 1:7

“For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, &c.] In the expressions and acts of it to the poor saints; for which reason the apostle gives thanks for it before; and it is a pleasure and comfort to an ingenuous mind, though it is not in his power to do good to the poor saints himself, to see that others have both abilities, and a heart to relieve them: because the bowels of the saints are, refreshed by thee, brother; meaning, not only that their bellies were filled with food, for the phrase is used in (<570120>Philemon 1:20) where that cannot be intended; but their hearts were filled with gladness, the load upon their spirits, the pressures upon their minds were removed, and they had an…”

“For--a reason for the prayer, Plm 1:4-6. we have--Greek, "we had." joy and consolation--joined in Co2 7:4. saints are refreshed by thee--His house was open to them. brother--put last, to conciliate his favorable attention to the request which follows.”

“For we have great joy and consolation in thy love - In thy love toward Christians. The word here rendered “joy” (χάριν charin), properly means grace. A large number of manuscripts, however, instead of this word, have χαρὰν charan, Charan, joy. See Wetstein. This reading has been adopted by Griesbach, Tittman, and Hahn. Because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother - For your kindness to them. The word “bowels” here probably means minds, hearts, for it is used in the Scriptures to denote the affections. The sense is, that the kindness which he had shown to Christians had done much to make them happy. On the word refreshed, see 2 Corinthians 7:13; 2 Timothy 1:16. return to…”

“The saints - To whom Philemon's house was open, Plm 1:2. Philemon 1:8”

“great joy: Th1 1:3, Th1 2:13, Th1 2:19, Th1 3:9; Jo2 1:4; Jo3 1:3-6 the bowels: Plm 1:20; Co2 7:13; Ti2 1:16 Philemon 1:8”