Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;

2 and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church that is in your house:

And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:

3 grace be to you all, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.

5 hearing of your love and your faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,

Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:

6 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.

That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, though I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do that which is becoming,

Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:

9 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.

For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

11 who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:

Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

12 I send him back, and do you receive him, that is, my son.

Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

13 I did wish to keep him with me, that, in your stead, he might serve me in my bonds for the gospel;

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:

14 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.

But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

15 Perhaps, indeed, lie departed for a short time for this reason, that you might receive him forever; (aiōnios g166)

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever: (aiōnios g166)

16 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.

Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?

17 If, then, you regard me as a partner, receive him as myself.

If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

18 But if he has done you any wrong, or owes you any thing, put that to my account.

And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.

19 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.

I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.

Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 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.

But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you:

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 so also do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.

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

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