Philemon 1:9 (ASV)

Passage

yet for love`s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

Nearby Context

Philemon 1:7 For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

Philemon 1:8 Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

Philemon 1:9 yet for love`s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

Philemon 1:10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

Philemon 1:11 who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "love", "sake", "rather", "beseech", "such", "paul", "aged", and "prisoner". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "love" and "sake", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Wherefore though I have all boldness in..." into verse 10's "I beseech thee for my child whom...", so "love" and "sake" 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 "love" and "sake" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.