Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,

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

and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:

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

Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

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

I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,

5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for 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.

so that the sharing of your (sg) faith may become powerful through a full understanding of every good thing that is among you (pl) who are in Christ Jesus;

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

yes, we have much thanksgiving and encouragement because of your (sg) love, in that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,

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

I—being none other than Paul the old man and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ—would rather appeal to you, for love's sake.

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

I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back

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

—formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.

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

So receive him, who is my very heart

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.

—I would have liked to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me in your place, while I am in chains for 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 I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.

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)

Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (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 slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, very much to me but even more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.

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, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).

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

Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even 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 meanwhile, do prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your (pl) prayers I will be graciously bestowed on you (pl).

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

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),

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

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

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.