Philemon 1:7 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For we have great joy and consolation Timothy and I are greatly rejoiced and comforted; in, or by, thy love To God and his people; because the bowels of the saints That is, the saints themselves, to whom it seems Philemon's house was open; are refreshed by thee, brother So the apostle terms him; not merely because he was a believer in Christ, but because he was one whom he tenderly loved. “The refreshment of which the apostle speaks was produced by the relief which Philemon's works of charity brought to them in their distresses. And the saints who were thus refreshed were not those only who lived in Philemon's neighbourhood, but those also who were driven from their homes for the name of Christ, or who went about preaching the gospel. Perhaps also the apostle meant that the knowledge of Philemon's charitable actions gave great joy even to the saints who had no need of his good offices.” Macknight.