After Paul thanks God for Philemon, he prays (see below) for him. Philemon had been a blessing to God's people. His compassion and love were evident (cf. Philemon 1:5). Bruce has done some detailed work on Philemon 1:6. He says:
A fairly literal rendering is provided in the ARV: "that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ" (the phrase "which is in you" represents a variant reading from that presupposed in the translation above: "which is in us"). But such a literal rendering calls for detailed interpretation.
The "fellowship" is probably to be understood actively, of Philemon's "sharing" his resources with others in a spirit of liberality which springs from his faith in Christ. In the context this is more probable than such other interpretations as "your communication of the faith (to others), the fellowship which you enjoy (with others) by faith, the fellowship which you enjoy (with Christ) by faith," "your share in the faith," or "the share (which others have) in your faith." All these are possible meanings for the Greek phrase in itself.
If this is so, then the prayer that Philemon's liberality may become "effective" is a prayer that he may experience the truth of the principle: "he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Cor. 9:6). What Philemon will reap, if the prayer is answered, is the knowledge and enjoyment of every blessing that Christians have in Christ, in the spirit of 2 Cor. 9:8: "God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work." Paul has one particular good work in his mind for Philemon to perform, and the resources necessary for its performance are resources not of material affluence but of Christian grace. If "unto Christ" (ARV) is the correct rendering of the last phrase in the verse, then it would mean, as Lightfoot interprets it, "leading to Him as the goal," and would be attached in sense not to "which is ours" but to "may become effective . . . " The expression "which is ours" is literally "which (is) in us"; it might mean "implanted within each of us" or "which is among us (or 'at our disposal') as the people of Christ." In a context where sharing is emphasized the collective sense is more probable, and this sense is reinforced by the rendering "in Christ."
As to Philemon 1:7, Rupprecht says, "Paul has been repeatedly impressed by the expressions of Philemon's love, which have brought him much "joy and encouragement." Philemon 1:7 is intended to justify Paul's expansive use of the phrases "full understanding" and "every good thing" in Philemon 1:6. According to this interpretation, he is praying for great Christian maturity in his brother. The implication is that this maturity will find expression in Philemon's treatment of Onesimus."
7 refreshed . . . hearts. In v5 Paul acknowledged Philemon’s
love for all the saints. He elaborates here on how he has been refreshed personally, and sets the stage for how his
heart, Onesimus, may benefit as well. Paul uses
synecdoche, a figure of speech wherein a part of something represents the whole thing. Refreshed hearts refers to refreshed or encouraged people or lives.
