Philemon 1

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

[I], Paul, am a prisoner [who serves] Christ Jesus. [I am here] with Timothy, our fellow believer. [I am writing this letter] to [you], 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:

[I am also writing] to [your wife], Apphia, and to Archippus, [who is like] [MET] our fellow soldier [because he serves Christ steadfastly together with us]. I am also [writing this] to the congregation [that meets/gathers] in your [(sg)] house.

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

[I pray that] God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to] act kindly toward you all and [will continue to] cause you to have [inner] peace.

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

I always thank my God when I pray for you [(sg)], because I hear [people say that] you love all God’s people [CHI]

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

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

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 as a result of your knowing all the good things [that God/Christ has done for] us, you may (be effective/influence many others) as you tell others what you believe, in order that [they may honor] 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.

I have rejoiced greatly and have been greatly encouraged because you, my dear friend, have acted lovingly toward God’s people by encouraging them [SYN].

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

So [I have a request/favor to ask of you]. I am completely confident [that I have authority] to command you [to do] what you ought to do, because [I am an apostle of] Christ.

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.

But because [I know that you] love [God’s people], I request this instead of [commanding you to do it]. It is I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner [because I serve] Christ Jesus, [who am requesting it].

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

I request that you [do something] for someone [who has become like] my own son [because I told him about Christ] [MET] while [I have been] a prisoner [MTY] [here. His name is] Onesimus.

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

Although [his name, as you know, means ‘useful’], formerly he 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.

Although (he is [as dear to me as/I love him as much as I love]) [MET] my own self [MTY], I am sending him back to you.

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 would like to have kept him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf, while I am a prisoner [MTY] [because of my preaching] the message [about Christ].

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

Nevertheless, because [I had not yet asked you and] you had not yet permitted me [to keep him here with me], I decided not to [keep him here. I decided that I should] not do anything without your permitting it. [I decided that you should help me only if you] really want to help me.

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

Perhaps the reason that [God permitted] Onesimus to be separated from {to leave} you for a little while was that [he would believe in Christ, and as a result] you would have him (back/with you) 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?

[You will no longer have him only] as a slave. Instead, [you will have him] as [someone who is] more than a slave. [You will have him] as a fellow believer! He is especially dear to me, but he certainly will be more dear to you [than he is to me] (OR, I love him very much, but you will certainly love him more than I do), [because now he] not only belongs to you but he also belongs to the Lord.

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

So, if you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive 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 in any manner or if he owes you anything, (charge that to me/tell me so that I can pay you).

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, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you what he owes you, although I might mention to you that you owe me even more than Onesimus may owe you, because it was the result of my telling you about Christ that God saved you.

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

(Yes/I say it again), my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] [by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe] in Christ.

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

I have written [this letter] to you, confident that you will do what I am requesting you to [do]. [In fact], I know that you will do even more than what I am requesting [you to do].

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

Also, keep a guest room ready for me [to stay in], because I confidently expect that as a result of your prayers [for me, I] will be released [from prison and will come] to you all.

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

Epaphras, who is [suffering] with me in prison because of [his serving] Christ Jesus, (sends his greetings to you/wants you to know that he is thinking fondly about you).

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

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who are my [other] fellow workers, also (send their greetings to you/want you to know that they are thinking fondly about you).

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

[I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).