Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;
2 and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:
And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:
3 Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,
I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.
5 hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,
Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:
6 so that the sharing of your (sg) faith may become powerful through a full understanding of every good thing that is among you (pl) who are in Christ Jesus;
That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 yes, we have much thanksgiving and encouragement because of your (sg) love, in that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,
Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:
9 I—being none other than Paul the old man and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ—would rather appeal to you, for love's sake.
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.
10 I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back
I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,
11 —formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.
Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,
12 So receive him, who is my very heart
Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.
13 —I would have liked to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me in your place, while I am in chains for the Gospel,
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:
14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.
But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.
15 Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios g166)
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever: (aiōnios g166)
16 —no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, very much to me but even more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.
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?
17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.
If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.
And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.
19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).
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.
20 Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.
Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 But meanwhile, do prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your (pl) prayers I will be graciously bestowed on you (pl).
But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
