Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and co-workman,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 and to the beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy house:
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making recollection of thee always in my prayers,
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 hearing of thy love and faith, which thou have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the sanctified,
hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6 so that the fellowship of thy faith may become potent (in the knowledge of every good thing in us) for Christ Jesus.
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have much joy and encouragement in thy love, because the bowels of the sanctified have been refreshed by thee, brother.
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9 because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my child Onesimus, whom I begot in my bonds.
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,
11 A man formerly unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back.
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 Whom I wanted to keep back for myself, so that in thy behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the good news.
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14 But I wanted to do nothing without thy mind, so that thy goodness might not be as from obligation, but from volition.
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever, (aiōnios g166)
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you briefly, that you would now have him wholly (aiōnios g166),
16 no longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in flesh and in the Lord.
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then thou have me a partner, accept him as myself.
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 But if he has wronged thee, or owes anything, charge this to me.
But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19 I Paul write with my hand, I will repay, so that I may not say to thee that thou owe me in return even thyself.
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
20 Yes, brother, let me have a favor of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Being confident in thine obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou will do above what I say.
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 But simultaneously also prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that by your prayers I will be granted to you.
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee,
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-workmen.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Truly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
