< Philemon 1 >
1 Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper,
Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy a brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow-laborer, and to the beloved Apphia,
2 And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:
and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thine house,
3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,
I thank 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 the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and of thy love to 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.
that the communication of thy faith may become effectual in the acknowledgement of all the good that is in you towards Christ Jesus:
7 For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.
for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because by thee, dear brother, the bowels of the saints are refreshed.
8 Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaund thee that which is conuenient,
Wherefore though I have sufficient authority in Christ to enjoin thee what is meet,
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.
I would rather intreat thee out of love to me, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner too for the sake of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,
I intreat thee then for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
11 Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,
who was formerly unprofitable to thee, but now profitable both to thee and to me; whom I have sent back to thee:
12 Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels,
him therefore, as my own bowels, do thou receive.
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 would gladly have kept with me, that he might have ministered unto me as thou wouldst have done, in the bonds of the gospel.
14 But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
But I would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.
15 It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer, (aiōnios )
For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever: (aiōnios )
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?
not now as a servant, but above a servant, a dear brother, especially to me, and how much more 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 accountest me a friend, receive him as thou wouldst receive me.
18 If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.
If he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is indebted to thee, place it to my accompt:
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 pay it: not to say that thou indeed owest even thy own self to me.
20 Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.
Yea, my brother, let me enjoy this satisfaction from thee in the Lord: and thus refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.
Being fully persuaded of thy compliance, I have written to thee; knowing that thou wilt indeed do more than I ask.
22 Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.
But I must add, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be restored to you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,
Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, and Marcus,
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.
Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow-laborers, salute thee.
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 grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.