Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at 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 and peace to you 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 always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.
5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:
6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
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 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8 So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:
9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
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 appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,
11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,
12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.
13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains 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 I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own 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 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— (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 slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person 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 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.
18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it 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, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
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 some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored 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, sends you greetings,
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
