Philemon 1:20 (ASV)

Passage

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

Nearby Context

Philemon 1:18 But if he hath wronged the at all, or oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account;

Philemon 1:19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.

Philemon 1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

Philemon 1:21 Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.

Philemon 1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "brother", "thee", "lord", "refresh", "heart", and "christ". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "brother" and "thee", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "I Paul write it with mine own..." into verse 21's "Having confidence in thine obedience I write...", so "brother" and "thee" belong inside that flow. In Philemon context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "brother" and "thee" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.