because I continue to hear of the love and faith you have in the Lord Jesus and all His people,

Yes, I have felt great joy and encouragement over your love, because the hearts of God's people have been refreshed by you, my brother.

because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, because I want your generosity to be voluntary and not, as it were, compulsory.

For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever,

Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

I write you in perfect confidence in your compliance with my wish, because I am sure that you will do even more than I ask.

And another thing: Prepare a place for me to stay, because I hope that through [an answer to] your prayers I will be returned to you. [Note: Paul was hoping to be released from imprisonment to visit Philemon at Colosse].