Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, the brother, to Philemon, the beloved, and our fellow-laborer;
2 And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your house:
and to Apphia, the beloved; and to Archippus, our fellow-soldier, and to the congregation in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,
I give thanks to my God always, making mention of you in my prayers--
5 Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;
(having heard of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and of your love to all the saints)--
6 That the faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ.
that the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledgment of every good thing that is among us, toward Christ Jesus.
7 For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.
For we have much joy and consolation in your love; because the souls of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.
8 And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,
Wherefore, thought I might be bold in Christ, to enjoin you what is fit;
9 Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:
yet, for love's sake, I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now, also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,
I beseech you for my son, whom I have begot, in my bonds, even Onesimus;
11 Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:
who formerly was to you unprofitable, but now will be very profitable to you, even as he has been to me--
12 Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:
whom I have sent back: do you, therefore, receive him as an object of my tenderest affection;
13 Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:
whom I was desirous to have detained with myself, that, in your stead, he might have ministered to me, in these bonds, for the gospel:
14 But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.
but without your mind I would do nothing, that the good derived might not be as if by constraint, but as voluntary.
15 For it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever; (aiōnios g166)
Perhaps, also, for this reason he was separated for a little while, that you might have him for ever: (aiōnios g166)
16 No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord.
no longer as a slave only, but above a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me--and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.
If, then, you hold me as a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.
And if he had injured you in anything, or owes you, place it to my account.
19 I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.
I, Paul, have written with my own hand--I will repay. I forbear to urge upon you, that you owe to me even your ownself.
20 So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.
I beseech you brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord-- gratify my tender affections for Christ's sake.
21 Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say.
Having confidence in your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you will even do more than I ask.
22 And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.
But at the same time, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers, I shall be granted to you.
23 Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;
These salute you, Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus;
24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers.
Mark, Aristarchus; Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it.
The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
