Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,

2 And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.

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

May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.

I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.

5 Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:

I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.

6 That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.

I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.

7 For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

8 Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:

Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,

9 For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

10 I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.

11 Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

12 Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:

I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.

14 But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever: (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever. (aiōnios g166)

16 Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?

No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

18 And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.

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

19 I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!

20 Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.

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

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

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