Homilies on Philemon — Homily 2

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Philemon i. 4-6

I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, Hearing of your love and faith, which you have towards the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints. That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging [in the knowledge ] of every good thing which is in us, in Christ Jesus.

He does not immediately at the commencement ask the favor, but having first admired the man, and having praised him for his good actions, and having shown no small proof of his love, that he always made mention of him in his prayers, and having said that many are refreshed by him, and that he is obedient and complying in all things; then he puts it last of all, by this particularly putting him to the blush. For if others obtain the things which they ask, much more Paul. If coming before others, he was worthy to obtain, much more when he comes after others, and asks a thing not pertaining to himself, but in behalf of another. Then, that he may not seem to have written on this account only, and that no one may say, If it were not for Onesimus you would not have written, see how he assigns other causes also of his Epistle. In the first place manifesting his love, then also desiring that a lodging may be prepared for him.

Hearing, he says, of your love.

This is wonderful, and much greater than if being present he had seen it when he was present. For it is plain that from its being excessive it had become manifest, and had reached even to Paul. And yet the distance between Rome and Phrygia was not small. For he seems to have been there from the mention of Archippus. For the Colossians were of Phrygia, writing to whom he said, When this Epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea. [[Colossians 4.16]] And this is a city of Phrygia.

I pray, he says, that the communication of your faith may become effectual in the knowledge of every good thing which is in Christ Jesus. Do you see him first giving, before he receives, and before he asks a favor himself bestowing a much greater one of his own? That the communication of your faith, he says, may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus; that is, that you may attain all virtue, that nothing may be deficient. For so faith becomes effectual, when it is accompanied with works. For without works faith is dead. [[James 2.26]] And he has not said, Your faith, but the communication of your faith, connecting it with himself, and showing that it is one body, and by this particularly making him ashamed to refuse. If you are a partaker, he says, with respect to the faith, you ought to communicate also with respect to other things.

Ver. 7. For we have [I had] great joy and consolation in your love, because the bowels [hearts] of the Saints are refreshed by you, brother.

Nothing so shames us into giving, as to bring forward the kindnesses bestowed on others,