Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in 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 always, making mention of thee in my prayers,

I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,

5 hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;

6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

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 I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through 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 Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

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, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,

11 who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

12 whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

13 whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

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 without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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 he was therefore parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; (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 servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the 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 countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.

18 But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account;

If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.

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 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

21 Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond 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 withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto 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, saluteth thee;

Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;

24 [and so do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.

And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it.