Philemon 1
1 This letter is sent from Paul, prisoner of Jesus Christ, and from our brother Timothy, to Philemon, our good friend and co-worker;
Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,
2 to our sister Apphia, to Archippus who fights alongside us, and to your house church.
and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:
3 May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God for you, remembering you in my prayers,
I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,
5 because I hear of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all believers.
hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,
6 I pray that you will put the generous nature of your trust in God into action as you recognize all the good things we share in Christ.
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;
7 Your love, my dear brother, has brought me much happiness and encouragement. You have really inspired those of us who believe!
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.
8 That's why even though I'm brave enough in Christ to order you to do your duty,
Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,
9 I would rather ask you this favor out of love. Old Paul, now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus,
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.
10 is appealing to you on behalf of Onesimus who became my adopted son during my imprisonment.
I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back
11 In the past he was of no use to you, but now he's useful to both you and me!
—formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.
12 I send him to you with my fondest wishes.
So receive him, who is my very heart
13 I'd have preferred to keep him here with me so that he could have helped me as you would have done while I am in chains for telling the good news.
—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,
14 But I decided not do anything without your permission. I didn't want you to be forced to do good, but to do so willingly.
but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.
Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios g166)
16 He's not a servant anymore, because he's more than a servant. He's a specially-loved brother, particularly to me, and even more to you, both as a man and as a fellow-believer in the Lord.
—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.
17 So if you consider me as a colleague working together with you for the Lord, welcome him as if you were welcoming me.
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.
18 If he has done you any wrong, or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.
19 I Paul am signing this with my own hand: I will repay you. Of course I won't mention what you owe me, including your very self!
I, Paul, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).
20 Yes, brother, I'm expecting this favor from you in the Lord; please make me happy in Christ.
Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 I'm writing about this to you because I'm convinced you'll do as I ask—in fact I know you'll do even more than I've asked!
Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.
22 In the meantime please have a room ready for me, for I hope to be able to return to see you soon in answer to your prayers.
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).
23 Epaphras who is here in prison with me sends his greetings,
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),
24 as do my co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.
