Philemon 1
1 PAUL, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy a brother, to Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-labourer,
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at thy house:
and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and unto all the saints;
hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
6 that there may be an operative communication of thy faith made known by every good thing, which is in you towards Jesus Christ.
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Christ.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I have in Christ great liberty to enjoin thee what is becoming,
Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9 I rather for love’s sake entreat, being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.
yet on the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
10 I entreat thee for my son, whom I have begotten during my bonds, Onesimus:
I appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
11 who in time past hath been an unprofitable servant to thee, but now very profitable to thee and to me:
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 whom I have sent back; thou therefore receive him, even as my own bowels:
I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,
13 whom I wished to detain about myself, that in thy stead he might have waited upon me during my bonds for the gospel:
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14 but without thy consent would I do nothing; that this good deed of thine might not be as of necessity, but from thy own choice.
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 For to this end perhaps was he separated from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever; (aiōnios g166)
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)
16 no longer as a slave, but above a slave, as a brother beloved, especially by me, but how much more by thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If therefore thou holdest me a sharer with thee, receive him as myself.
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 If he hath injured thee or oweth thee ought, put that to my account;
But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19 I Paul have given it under my own hand, I will repay it, not to say to thee, that thou owest even thine own self unto me.
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
20 Yea, brother, I wish to have joy in thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say.
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 But at the same time prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-labourers.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Amen. Written to Philemon from Rome, by Onesimus one of his household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
