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Philemon 1:7
7 For [gar] we have [echo] great [polus] joy [charis] and [kai] consolation [paraklesis] in [epi] thy [sou] love [agape], because [hoti] the bowels [splagchnon] of the saints [hagios] are refreshed [anapauo] by [dia] thee [sou], brother [adelphos]. KJV-Interlinear
7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. NASB
The word for ‘we’ refers both to Paul himself, and to believers in general, as well as those who were accompanying Paul at that time.
This indicates that they have a good deal of information, and favorable information at that, that has come to their attention with regard to Philemons’ reputation.
Since Philemon is reasonable wealthy, since Philemon is holding a church study service in his home, and because this is a Christian service, then his name would naturally become a part of the conversation among Christian travelers in his day.
Joy and consolation refer to just that – happiness and comfort or an ease of opinion toward Philemon and a confidence in the truthfulness of what they have heard. The information that has come to them, by whatever means, is from credible and therefore believable sources.
Bowels, is a reference to the intestines of the physical body, but here it has a figurative meaning to with regard to ones emotions, affection, or feelings. Philemon was an instantly likable person, because of his reputation.
Paul felt easy in the writing this letter in behalf of Onesimus. There was nothing to cause him to hesitate or wonder about Onesimus’ motives.
Refreshed means to be revitalized, re-energized, recharged, rejuvenated and so forth.
When good news is heard, and especially when you happen to be surrounded by bad news or bad circumstances, then that good news tends to make you feel better, to give you hope, to give you a recharge of sorts.
And that is what doctrine does for believers in general.
This world is saturated with bizarre thinking and ideas. The world is saturated with logic, empirical views, reason, religious views, and philosophies galore. All of which tend to lead people in the wrong direction with regard to life and truth.
That is the power from which, also combined with the sin nature of people, this world consists of. The world is full of activity and opinion.
On the other side of life’s coin is God and doctrine. God uses only His written word, only one book (the Bible), with which to oppose the world. Doctrine has more power in its little finger, than the world has in the entire planet. And though we can be overwhelmed by the activities in this world, just a little bit of doctrine heard, makes all the difference in the world with respect to our mental happiness and outlook on life.
