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 our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,
2 and to the beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy house:
And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church 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 give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,
5 hearing of thy love and faith, which thou have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the sanctified,
Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to 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 faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ.
7 For we have much joy and encouragement in thy love, because the bowels of the sanctified have been refreshed by thee, brother.
For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,
And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,
9 because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:
10 I beseech thee for my child Onesimus, whom I begot in my bonds.
My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,
11 A man formerly unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back.
Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:
12 And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.
Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very 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.
Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:
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 approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.
15 For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever, (aiōnios g166)
For it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever; (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 servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord.
17 If then thou have me a partner, accept him as myself.
If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.
18 But if he has wronged thee, or owes anything, charge this to me.
If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it 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, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.
20 Yes, brother, let me have a favor of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.
21 Being confident in thine obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou will do above what I say.
Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge 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.
And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee,
Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;
24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-workmen.
And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-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. So be it.
