Philemon 1:21 (LSB)

Passage

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

Nearby Context

Philemon 1:19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

Philemon 1:20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ!

Philemon 1:21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

Philemon 1:22 And at the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Philemon 1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "having", "confidence", "obedience", "write", "since", "even", and "than". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "having" and "confidence", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "Yes brother let me benefit from you..." into verse 22's "And at the same time also prepare...", so "having" and "confidence" 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 "having" and "confidence" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.