Philemon 1

1 Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper,

Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother, —unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours,

2 And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:

And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, and unto the assembly which meeteth, at thy house:

3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,

I am giving thanks unto my God—always, making mention, of thee, in my prayers,

5 (When I heare of thy loue and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and towarde all Saintes)

Hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints, —

6 That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.

To the end that, the fellowship of thy faith, may become, energetic, by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards Christ;

7 For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.

For, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaund thee that which is conuenient,

Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

9 Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.

Yet, for loves sake, I rather exhort, —being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even a prisoner of Christ Jesus, —

10 I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,

I exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, —Onesimus:

11 Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,

Him who, at one time, was, unto thee, unserviceable, but, now, unto thee and unto me, serviceable;

12 Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels,

Whom I have sent back unto thee—him, that is, my own, tender affections!—

13 Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel.

Whom, I, was minded, with myself, to detain, that, in thy behalf, unto me, he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message;

14 But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.

But, apart from thy mind, I wished to do, nothing, that, not as by necessity, thy goodness should be, but, by choice.

15 It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer, (aiōnios g166)

For, peradventure, for this cause, was he separated for an hour, that, as an age-abiding possession, thou mightest have him back, — (aiōnios g166)

16 Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, euen as a brother beloued, specially to me: howe much more then vnto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

No longer as a servant, but above a servant—a brother beloved, very greatly to me, but, how much rather, to thee—both in the flesh and in the Lord!

17 If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe.

If, therefore, thou holdest me as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, as myself;

18 If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.

And, if he hath wronged thee at all or oweth thee aught, the same, unto me, do thou reckon: —

19 I Paul haue written this with mine owne hande: I will recompense it, albeit I doe not say to thee, that thou owest moreouer vnto me euen thine owne selfe.

I, Paul, have written [it] with, my own, hand, —I, will repay [it]; that I may not tell thee—that, thyself, unto me, thou still owest.

20 Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.

Yea! brother, I, would, from thee, have help, in the Lord: give rest unto my tender affections in Christ.

21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.

Confident of thine obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that, even beyond what I say, thou wilt do: —

22 Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.

At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,

There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, —my fellow-workers.

25 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. ‘Written from Rome to Philemon, and send by Onesimus a seruant.’

The favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with your spirit.