Philemon 1 in the early church

53 passages quote, allude to, or echo Philemon 1, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 4 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 22 · 23 · 25

Philemon 1 as a whole

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1	Lines 51–60 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	late 2nd or 4th century (disputed)
Phlm 1	Canon 60 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 343–381
Phlm 1	Hexameron (Exameron) 3.53 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-390
Phlm 1	Canon 47 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	397

Philemon 1:1

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:1	Against Marcion 5.21 · Tertullian	allusion, high confidence	207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Phlm 1:1	Letter 7.1 · Antony the Great	allusion, medium confidence	before 356
Phlm 1:1	On the Trinity 4.39 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 356–360
Phlm 1:1–3	Commentary on Philemon 1:1–3 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Phlm 1:1	Letter 78.29 · Jerome	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 370–419
Phlm 1:1–2	Apostolic Constitutions 7.46.12 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 380
Phlm 1:1	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 45.17.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397

Philemon 1:2

to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:2	Church History 3.4.4 · Eusebius of Caesarea	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 300–325
Phlm 1:2	Canons on the Letters of Paul 63 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–400

Philemon 1:4

I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:4–6	Commentary on Philemon 1:4–6 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:7

I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:7	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 72 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Phlm 1:7	Letters 2 · Eusebius of Vercelli	allusion, high confidence	355-360
Phlm 1:7	Commentary on Philemon 1:7 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Phlm 1:7	Canons on the Letters of Paul 61 · Priscillian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380–400

Philemon 1:8

So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:8–9	Commentary on Philemon 1:8–9 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:9

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:9	Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 66 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Phlm 1:9	On Joseph 58 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-390
Phlm 1:9	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.60.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397

Philemon 1:10

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:10–14	Commentary on Philemon 1:10–14 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Phlm 1:10–12	Letter 64.2 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Phlm 1:10	Letter 82.6 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Phlm 1:10–17	Apostolic Canon 82 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 380
Phlm 1:10	Apostolic Constitutions 7.46.13 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 380
Phlm 1:10	Homilies on Matthew 43.5 · John Chrysostom	allusion, high confidence	ca. 390
Phlm 1:10	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.60.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397

Philemon 1:12

I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:12	Exposition of Psalm 118 14.24.4 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397

Philemon 1:13

I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:13	Exposition of Psalm 118 14.24.4 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Phlm 1:13	On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 40 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 415

Philemon 1:14

But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:14	Homilies on Jeremiah 20.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 240
Phlm 1:14	Exposition of Psalm 118 14.24.3 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 386-397
Phlm 1:14	Exposition of Psalm 118 14.24.4 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Phlm 1:14	On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 40 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 415
Phlm 1:14	On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 41 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 415
Phlm 1:14	On Grace and Free Will 2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 426

Philemon 1:15

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:15–16	Commentary on Philemon 1:15–16 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:16

no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:16	Oration II Against the Arians 3 · Athanasius of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	ca. 339–346
Phlm 1:16	Apostolic Constitutions 4.12.4 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 380
Phlm 1:16	Sermon 58.2 · Augustine of Hippo	echo, medium confidence	ca. 391-430

Philemon 1:17

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:17	Commentary on Philemon 1:17 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:18

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:18	Commentary on Philemon 1:18–19 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:19

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:19	Commentary on Philemon 1:19 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:20

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:20	Letters 2 · Eusebius of Vercelli	quotation, high confidence	355-360
Phlm 1:20–21	Commentary on Philemon 1:20–21 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Phlm 1:20	On Christian Doctrine 1.33 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	Books 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427

Philemon 1:22

In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:22	Commentary on Philemon 1:22 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384

Philemon 1:23

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:23–24	Commentary on Philemon 1:23–24 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Phlm 1:23	Apology against Jerome 1.40 · Rufinus of Aquileia	quotation, high confidence	ca. 401

Philemon 1:25

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Phlm 1:25	Epistle of Barnabas 21.9 · Anonymous	echo, medium confidence	ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130)
Phlm 1:25	Commentary on Philemon 1:25 · Ambrosiaster	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–384