< Philemon 1 >
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and co-workman,
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy my brother, to Philemon my beloved, and our fellow-laborer,
2 and to the beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy house:
and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church that is in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
grace be to you all, 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, making mention of you always 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 your faith, which you have in 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 your participation in the faith may be active in the acknowledgment of every good thing that is in us, to the honor of 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 great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,
Wherefore, though I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do that which is becoming,
9 because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
yet, on account of my love, I rather exhort you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my child Onesimus, whom I begot in my bonds.
I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
11 A man formerly unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back.
who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:
12 And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.
I send him back, and do you receive him, that is, my son.
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.
I did wish to keep him with me, that, in your stead, he might serve me in my bonds for the gospel;
14 But I wanted to do nothing without thy mind, so that thy goodness might not be as from obligation, but from volition.
but, without your consent, I was not willing to do any thing, that your good deed might not be as a matter of necessity, but one of free-will.
15 For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever, (aiōnios )
Perhaps, indeed, lie departed for a short time for this reason, that you might receive him forever; (aiōnios )
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 servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially by me, and how much more by you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then thou have me a partner, accept him as myself.
If, then, you regard me as a partner, receive him as myself.
18 But if he has wronged thee, or owes anything, charge this to me.
But if he has done you any wrong, or owes you any thing, 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, do write it with my own hand, I will repay it; that I may not say to you, that you owe to me even yourself 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 of 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 more than I say.
22 But simultaneously also prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that by your prayers I will be granted to you.
At the same time, also, prepare me a lodging: for I hope that through the prayers of you all, I may be given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee,
Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you:
24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-workmen.
so also do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Truly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen.