Filemon 1

1 Paulus, Kristi Jesu Fange, og Broderen Timotheus til Filemon, vor elskede og Medarbejder,

[I], Paul, am a prisoner [who serves] Christ Jesus. [I am here] with Timothy, our fellow believer. [I am writing this letter] to [you], Philemon, our dear [friend] and fellow worker.

2 og til Søsteren Appia og Arkippus, vor Medstrider, og Menigheden i dit Hus;

[I am also writing] to [your wife], Apphia, and to Archippus, [who is like] [MET] our fellow soldier [because he serves Christ steadfastly together with us]. I am also [writing this] to the congregation [that meets/gathers] in your [(sg)] house.

3 Naade være med eder og Fred fra Gud vor Fader og den Herre Jesus Kristus!

[I pray that] God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to] act kindly toward you all and [will continue to] cause you to have [inner] peace.

4 Jeg takker min Gud altid, naar jeg kommer dig i Hu i mine Bønner,

I always thank my God when I pray for you [(sg)], because I hear [people say that] you love all God’s people [CHI]

5 efterdi jeg hører om din Kærlighed og den Tro, som du har til den Herre Jesus og til alle de hellige,

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

6 for at din Delagtighed i Troen maa blive virksom for Kristus i Erkendelse af alt det gode, som er i eder.

I pray that as a result of your knowing all the good things [that God/Christ has done for] us, you may (be effective/influence many others) as you tell others what you believe, in order that [they may honor] Christ.

7 Thi stor Glæde og Trøst har jeg faaet af din Kærlighed, efterdi de helliges Hjerter ere blevne vederkvægede ved dig, Broder!

I have rejoiced greatly and have been greatly encouraged because you, my dear friend, have acted lovingly toward God’s people by encouraging them [SYN].

8 Derfor, endskønt jeg kunde med stor Frimodighed i Kristus befale dig det, som er tilbørligt,

So [I have a request/favor to ask of you]. I am completely confident [that I have authority] to command you [to do] what you ought to do, because [I am an apostle of] Christ.

9 saa beder jeg dig dog hellere for Kærlighedens Skyld, saadan som jeg er, som den gamle Paulus, og nu tilmed Kristi Jesu Fange;

But because [I know that you] love [God’s people], I request this instead of [commanding you to do it]. It is I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner [because I serve] Christ Jesus, [who am requesting it].

10 jeg beder dig for mit Barn, som jeg har avlet i mine Lænker, Onesimus,

I request that you [do something] for someone [who has become like] my own son [because I told him about Christ] [MET] while [I have been] a prisoner [MTY] [here. His name is] Onesimus.

11 ham, som tilforn var dig unyttig, men nu er nyttig baade for dig og for mig, ham, som jeg sender dig tilbage,

Although [his name, as you know, means ‘useful’], formerly he was useless to you. But now he is useful both to you and to me!

12 ham, det er mit eget Hjerte.

Although (he is [as dear to me as/I love him as much as I love]) [MET] my own self [MTY], I am sending him back to you.

13 Ham vilde jeg gerne beholde hos mig, for at han i dit Sted kunde tjene mig i Evangeliets Lænker.

I would like to have kept him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf, while I am a prisoner [MTY] [because of my preaching] the message [about Christ].

14 Men uden dit Samtykke vilde jeg intet gøre, for at din Godhed ikke skulde være som af Tvang, men af fri Villie.

Nevertheless, because [I had not yet asked you and] you had not yet permitted me [to keep him here with me], I decided not to [keep him here. I decided that I should] not do anything without your permitting it. [I decided that you should help me only if you] really want to help me.

15 Thi maaske blev han derfor skilt fra dig en liden Tid, for at du kunde faa ham igen til evigt Eje, (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps the reason that [God permitted] Onesimus to be separated from {to leave} you for a little while was that [he would believe in Christ, and as a result] you would have him (back/with you) forever! (aiōnios g166)

16 ikke mere som en Træl, men som mere end en Træl, som en elsket Broder, særlig for mig, men hvor meget mere for dig, baade i Kødet og i Herren.

[You will no longer have him only] as a slave. Instead, [you will have him] as [someone who is] more than a slave. [You will have him] as a fellow believer! He is especially dear to me, but he certainly will be more dear to you [than he is to me] (OR, I love him very much, but you will certainly love him more than I do), [because now he] not only belongs to you but he also belongs to the Lord.

17 Dersom da du anser mig for din Medbroder, saa modtag ham som mig!

So, if you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive me.

18 Men har han gjort dig nogen Uret eller er dig noget skyldig, da før mig det til Regning!

If he has wronged you in any manner or if he owes you anything, (charge that to me/tell me so that I can pay you).

19 Jeg, Paulus, skriver med min egen Haand, jeg vil betale, — for ikke at sige dig, at du desuden ogsaa skylder mig dig selv.

I, Paul, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you what he owes you, although I might mention to you that you owe me even more than Onesimus may owe you, because it was the result of my telling you about Christ that God saved you.

20 Ja, Broder! lad mig faa Gavn af dig i Herren, vederkvæg mit Hjerte i Kristus!

(Yes/I say it again), my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] [by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe] in Christ.

21 I Tillid til din Lydighed skriver jeg til dig, idet jeg ved, at du vil gøre endog mere end det, jeg siger.

I have written [this letter] to you, confident that you will do what I am requesting you to [do]. [In fact], I know that you will do even more than what I am requesting [you to do].

22 Men med det samme bered ogsaa Herberge for mig; thi jeg haaber, at jeg ved eders Bønner skal skænkes eder.

Also, keep a guest room ready for me [to stay in], because I confidently expect that as a result of your prayers [for me, I] will be released [from prison and will come] to you all.

23 Epafras, min medfangne i Kristus Jesus,

Epaphras, who is [suffering] with me in prison because of [his serving] Christ Jesus, (sends his greetings to you/wants you to know that he is thinking fondly about you).

24 Markus, Aristarkus, Demas, Lukas, mine Medarbejdere, hilse dig.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who are my [other] fellow workers, also (send their greetings to you/want you to know that they are thinking fondly about you).

25 Vor Herres Jesu Kristi Naade være med eders Aand!

[I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).