Χάριν γὰρ ἔχομεν πολλὴν καὶ παράκλησιν ἐπὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ σου, ὅτι τὰ σπλάγχνα τῶν ἁγίων ἀναπέπαυται διὰ σοῦ, ἀδελφέ. (Philemon 7)
For we have much gratitude and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Two Verbs of Emotion and Effect
Philemon 7 contains two Greek verbs that capture both internal response and external result:
- ἔχομεν — present active indicative, “we have”
- ἀναπέπαυται — perfect passive indicative, “has been refreshed”
One expresses the present gratitude felt by Paul, the other describes the completed benefit experienced by others through Philemon.
Grammatical Dissection of the Verbs
| Verb: ἔχομεν | |
|---|---|
| Lexical Form | ἔχω |
| Tense | Present |
| Voice | Active |
| Mood | Indicative |
| Person & Number | 1st Plural |
| Aspect | Imperfective |
| Semantic Force | Describes Paul’s and possibly Timothy’s current, continuous possession of joy and encouragement |
| Verb: ἀναπέπαυται | |
| Lexical Form | ἀναπαύω |
| Tense | Perfect |
| Voice | Passive |
| Mood | Indicative |
| Person & Number | 3rd Singular |
| Aspect | Stative/Resultative |
| Semantic Force | The hearts have been refreshed and remain in that state—a lasting comfort through Philemon’s love |
Tense and Relationship: Present and Perfect in Harmony
– ἔχομεν (present): Expresses ongoing emotional response—Paul’s thanksgiving is not momentary but continues.
– ἀναπέπαυται (perfect): Describes a completed and abiding effect—the hearts of the saints have found lasting rest.
Voice and Agency
– The active voice in ἔχομεν shows Paul as the subject who possesses comfort.
– The passive voice in ἀναπέπαυται emphasizes that Philemon is the instrument through whom God refreshes others. The action is received by the saints, but channeled through him: διὰ σοῦ.
Lexical Insight: ἀναπαύω
The verb ἀναπαύω means “to refresh, give rest, restore.” The perfect tense intensifies this to mean “they have been refreshed—and they still are.” It hints at spiritual restoration, not just emotional relief.
What the Verb Meant to Say
This short verse is a model of Christian encouragement, and the verbs do the heavy lifting. The present tense shares ongoing joy; the perfect passive affirms that Philemon’s love has had a lasting impact. Verb morphology here becomes a theology of fellowship—showing how love refreshes not only the weary, but also the thankful.
