Philemon 1

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

Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother, —unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours,

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, and unto the assembly which meeteth, at thy house:

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

Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

I am giving thanks unto my God—always, making mention, 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 love, and of the faith which thou hast towards 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.

To the end that, the fellowship of thy faith, may become, energetic, by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards Christ;

7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

For, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them 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, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

Yet, for loves sake, I rather exhort, —being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even a prisoner of Christ Jesus, —

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

I exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, —Onesimus:

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

Him who, at one time, was, unto thee, unserviceable, but, now, unto thee and unto me, serviceable;

12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

Whom I have sent back unto thee—him, that is, my own, tender affections!—

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, was minded, with myself, to detain, that, in thy behalf, unto me, he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message;

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, apart from thy mind, I wished to do, nothing, that, not as by necessity, thy goodness should be, but, by choice.

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, peradventure, for this cause, was he separated for an hour, that, as an age-abiding possession, thou mightest have him back, — (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.

No longer as a servant, but above a servant—a brother beloved, very greatly to me, but, how much rather, 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 holdest me as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, 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 at all or oweth thee aught, the same, unto me, do thou reckon: —

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]; that I may not tell thee—that, thyself, unto me, thou still owest.

20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Yea! brother, I, would, from thee, have help, in the Lord: give rest unto my tender affections in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Confident of thine obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that, even beyond what I say, thou wilt do: —

22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,

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

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, —my fellow-workers.

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

The favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with your spirit.