Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer,

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 beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thine house,

3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

I thank my God always making mention of thee in my prayers,

5 Hearing of your love (agape) and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

(hearing of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and of thy love to all the saints, )

6 That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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 have great joy and consolation in your love, (agape) because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.

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 might be much bold in Christ to admonish you that which is convenient,

Wherefore though I have sufficient authority in Christ to enjoin thee what is meet,

9 Yet for love's (agape) sake I rather plead to you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus 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 plead to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

I intreat thee then for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

11 Which in time past was to you useless, but now profitable to you 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 Whom I have sent again: you therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

him therefore, as my own bowels, do thou receive.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in your position he might have ministered unto me in the bonds 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 your mind would I do nothing; that your benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

But I would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever; (aiōnios g166)

For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever: (aiōnios g166)

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto you, 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 you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If therefore thou accountest me a friend, receive him as thou wouldst receive me.

18 If he has wronged you, or owes you ought, put that on mine account;

If he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is indebted to thee, place it to my accompt:

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: although it be I do not say to you how you owe unto me even your own self besides.

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 me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh 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 Having confidence in your obedience I wrote unto you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.

Being fully persuaded of thy compliance, I have written to thee; knowing that thou wilt indeed do more than I ask.

22 But likewise prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto 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 you Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;

Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, and Marcus,

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.

Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (pneuma) Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.