Philemon 1:8
New International Version
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,

New Living Translation
That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.

English Standard Version
Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,

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

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to order you what is befitting,

King James Bible
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

New King James Version
Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

NASB 1995
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

NASB 1977
Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do that which is proper,

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command you to do what is proper,

Amplified Bible
Therefore [on the basis of these facts], though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is appropriate,

Christian Standard Bible
For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

American Standard Version
Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because of this, I have great freedom in The Messiah to command you those things that are right.

Contemporary English Version
Christ gives me the courage to tell you what to do.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:

English Revised Version
Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing.

Good News Translation
For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done.

International Standard Version
For this reason, although in the Messiah I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper,

Literal Standard Version
For this reason, having in Christ much boldness to command you that which is fit—

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

New American Bible
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

NET Bible
So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,

New Revised Standard Version
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,

New Heart English Bible
Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient.

Weymouth New Testament
Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting,

World English Bible
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Appeal for Onesimus
7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. 8So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, 9I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 3:12
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

Ephesians 5:4
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 2:6
Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.


Treasury of Scripture

Why, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin you that which is convenient,

bold.

2 Corinthians 3:12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

2 Corinthians 10:1,2
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: …

2 Corinthians 11:21
I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

enjoin.

2 Corinthians 10:8
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

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Accordingly Although Appropriate Authority Bold Boldness Christ Christ's Command Confidence Convenient Enjoin Enough Fit Fitting Freely Order Orders Ought Proper Required Right Speak Wherefore
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Accordingly Although Appropriate Authority Bold Boldness Christ Christ's Command Confidence Convenient Enjoin Enough Fit Fitting Freely Order Orders Ought Proper Required Right Speak Wherefore
Philemon 1
1. Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon,
8. whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again.














(8-20) Here St. Paul enters on the main subject of his Letter--the recommendation to Philemon of his runaway slave, Onesimus. All thoughtful readers of the Epistle must recognise in this a peculiar courtesy and delicacy of tone, through which an affectionate earnestness shows itself, and an authority all the greater because it is not asserted in command. The substance is equally notable in its bearing on slavery. Onesimus is doubly welcomed into the Christian family. He is St. Paul's son in the faith: he is to Philemon a brother beloved in the Lord. In that recognition is the truth to which, both in theory and in practice, we may look as being the destruction of slavery.

(8, 9) Wherefore . . . for love's sake . . .--Still the same idea runs on. Philemon's love, shown in Christian fellowship, is in the Apostle's mind; "therefore," he adds, "for love's sake"--speaking in the spirit of love, to which he knew there would be a ready response--he will not command, as an Apostle, what is "convenient," i.e., seemly, in a Christian (comp. Ephesians 5:14; Colossians 3:18), but will "entreat" as a brother.

(9) Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.--At this time St. Paul must have been between fifty and sixty, and after a life of unexampled labour and suffering he might well call himself "aged," not, perhaps, in comparison with Philemon, but in relation to his need of ministry from his "son" Onesimus. It has been suggested by Dr. Lightfoot that we should read here (by a slight change, or without any change, in the original), the ambassador, and also the prisoner, of Jesus Christ. The parallel with Ephesians 6:20--"for which I am an ambassador in bonds"--and, indeed, with the tone in which St. Paul in the other Epistles speaks of his captivity as his glory, is tempting. But the change seems to take much from the peculiar beauty and pathos of the passage; which fr

Verse 8. - Render: Although I have abundant freedom [boldness, or. even license] in Christ to enjoin upon thee that which is fitting. It was only in Christ, and by his authority as an apostle, that he could claim to come between a slave and his master. Secular warrant for doing so he had none. Such authority and license, however, he would not use on this occasion. He prefers to rely wholly on the respect and personal attachment felt towards him by Philemon, for the granting of his request, which he now proceeds to state.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
Διό (Dio)
Conjunction
Strong's 1352: Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently.

{although} in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Christ
Χριστῷ (Christō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

I am
ἔχων (echōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

bold
παρρησίαν (parrēsian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3954: From pas and a derivative of rheo; all out-spokenness, i.e. Frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance.

enough
πολλὴν (pollēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

to order
ἐπιτάσσειν (epitassein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2004: To give order, command, charge. From epi and tasso; to arrange upon, i.e. Order.

you [to do]
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

what [is]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

proper,
ἀνῆκον (anēkon)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 433: Is due, becoming, suitable, proper. From ana and heko; to attain to, i.e. be proper.


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NT Letters: Philemon 1:8 Therefore though I have all boldness (Phm Phl)
Philemon 1:7
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