Philemon 1

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

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

2 and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which [is] in thine house.

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

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

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

4 I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers,

I am giving thanks unto my God—always, making mention, of thee, in my prayers,

5 hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints,

Hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints, —

6 in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ [Jesus].

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 For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

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 Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

9 for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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 exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in [my] bonds, Onesimus,

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

11 once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:

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

12 whom I have sent back to thee: [but do thou receive] him, that is, my bowels:

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

13 whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

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 have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:

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 for this reason he has been separated [from thee] for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever; (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 not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in [the] flesh 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 If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner [with thee], receive him as me;

If, therefore, thou holdest me as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, as myself;

18 but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything [to thee], put this 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 have written [it] with mine own hand; I will repay [it]: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me.

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 Yea, brother, I would have profit of thee in [the] Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

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

21 Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

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

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers.

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 salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;

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

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

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

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.

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