Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,

Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to Philemon the beloved also our fellow-laborer,

2 and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:

and to sister Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the church in your 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 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 mention of you in my prayers,

5 hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,

hearing about your divine love, and the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and 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;

in order that the fellowship of your faith may be efficient in the perfect knowledge of every good thing which is in you toward Christ.

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 had much joy and consolation over your divine love, because the affections of the saints have been refreshed by you, O brother.

8 Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,

Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to command you to that which is appropriate,

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.

on account of the divine love, I the more exhort you, being such as Paul the aged, and now also the prisoner 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 exhort you concerning my son, whom I begat in my bonds, Onesimus,

11 —formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.

him at one time unprofitable to you, but now profitable both to you and to me: whom I have sent back to you,

12 So receive him, who is my very heart

him, that is my own heart.

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 did wish to have with me, in order that he might minister unto me in your stead in the bonds 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 your consent I did not wish to do anything; in order that your good might not be by constraint, but by the free will:

15 Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios g166)

for on this account he suddenly departed from you for an hour, that you might have him back forever; (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.

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a brother beloved, especially to me, and much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord:

17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.

if then you have me a comrade, receive him as myself.

18 If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.

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

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 with my own hand, I will pay it: not that I may say to you that you even owe yourself to me.

20 Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

Yea, brother, let me rejoice over you in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.

Having confidence in your obedience I have written to you, knowing that you will do even more than those things which 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).

And at the same time also prepare for me a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I will be consigned unto you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),

Epaphras, my fellow-soldier in Christ Jesus;

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers, salute you.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.