Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to Philemon the beloved also our fellow-laborer,

2 and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

and to sister Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the church in your house.

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

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

4 I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

I give thanks to my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 (for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

hearing about your divine love, and the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and all the saints;

6 so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

in order that the fellowship of your faith may be efficient in the perfect knowledge of every good thing which is in you toward Christ.

7 For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

For I had much joy and consolation over your divine love, because the affections of the saints have been refreshed by you, O brother.

8 Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to command you to that which is appropriate,

9 but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

on account of the divine love, I the more exhort you, being such as Paul the aged, and now also the prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

I exhort you concerning my son, whom I begat in my bonds, Onesimus,

11 In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

him at one time unprofitable to you, but now profitable both to you and to me: whom I have sent back to you,

12 So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

him, that is my own heart.

13 I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.

Whom I did wish to have with me, in order that he might minister unto me in your stead in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

but without your consent I did not wish to do anything; in order that your good might not be by constraint, but by the free will:

15 So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity, (aiōnios g166)

for on this account he suddenly departed from you for an hour, that you might have him back forever; (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a brother beloved, especially to me, and much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord:

17 Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

if then you have me a comrade, receive him as myself.

18 But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

If he has wronged you as to anything, or owes you anything, charge this to me.

19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.

I Paul have written with my own hand, I will pay it: not that I may say to you that you even owe yourself to me.

20 So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

Yea, brother, let me rejoice over you in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

21 I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

Having confidence in your obedience I have written to you, knowing that you will do even more than those things which I say.

22 But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

And at the same time also prepare for me a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I will be consigned unto you.

23 Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

Epaphras, my fellow-soldier in Christ Jesus;

24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers, salute you.

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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