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 our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

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

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your 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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I thank my God always, making mention of you 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 your love and of the faith which you have towards 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 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 great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

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

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

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

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.

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

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,

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

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

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

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

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 desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

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 I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, (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.

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, you regard me as a partner, receive him as myself.

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, 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, 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 joy of you in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what 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.

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 you:

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

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

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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.