< Philemon 1 >
1 Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the Assembly 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 the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,
I thank my God, making mention of thee always 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 love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all 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 become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which 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 we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are 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 might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
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.
Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a 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 beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 —formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 So receive him, who is my very heart
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine 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 unto me 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 thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios )
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (aiōnios )
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 above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto 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 thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.
If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine 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 mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
Yea, brother, let me have joy of 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.
Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto 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 trust 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 fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
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. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.