Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

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

and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly 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 of your love and faith that you have to the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones,

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.

that the fellowship of your faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;

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 we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the yearnings of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

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

For this reason, having in Christ much boldness to command you that which is fit—

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.

because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

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

I beg you concerning my child—whom I begot in my bonds—Onesimus,

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

who once was to you unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to you,

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

whom I sent again to you—he who 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 intended to retain to myself, that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,

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 apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness,

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

for perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, that you may have him continuously, (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 servant, but above a servant—a beloved brother, especially to me, and how 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 fellowship with me, receive him as me,

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

and if he did hurt to you, or owes 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, wrote with my hand, I will repay; besides, that I may not say that you also owe to me yourself.

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

Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the LORD; refresh my yearnings in the LORD;

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

I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may 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 granted to you.

23 Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

Epaphras greets you (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus),

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

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-workmen!

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.