Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy my brother, to Philemon my beloved, and our fellow-laborer,

2 and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in your house:

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

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

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

4 I give thanks to my God, always making mention of you in my prayers,

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

5 hearing of your love and faith that you have to the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones,

hearing of your love and your faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,

6 that the fellowship of your faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;

that your participation in the faith may be active in the acknowledgment of every good thing that is in us, to the honor of Christ Jesus.

7 for we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the yearnings of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

8 For this reason, having in Christ much boldness to command you that which is fit—

Wherefore, though I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do that which is becoming,

9 because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

yet, on account of my love, I rather exhort you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ.

10 I beg you concerning my child—whom I begot in my bonds—Onesimus,

I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

11 who once was to you unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to you,

who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:

12 whom I sent again to you—he who is my own heart,

I send him back, and do you receive him, that is, my son.

13 whom I intended to retain to myself, that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,

I did wish to keep him with me, that, in your stead, he might serve me in my bonds for the gospel;

14 but apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness,

but, without your consent, I was not willing to do any thing, that your good deed might not be as a matter of necessity, but one of free-will.

15 for perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, that you may have him continuously, (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps, indeed, lie departed for a short time for this reason, that you might receive him forever; (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a servant, but above a servant—a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the LORD!

no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially by me, and how much more by you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If, then, you have fellowship with me, receive him as me,

If, then, you regard me as a partner, receive him as myself.

18 and if he did hurt to you, or owes anything, charge this to me;

But if he has done you any wrong, or owes you any thing, put that to my account.

19 I, Paul, wrote with my hand, I will repay; besides, that I may not say that you also owe to me yourself.

I, Paul, do write it with my own hand, I will repay it; that I may not say to you, that you owe to me even yourself besides.

20 Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the LORD; refresh my yearnings in the LORD;

Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may say;

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

22 and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

At the same time, also, prepare me a lodging: for I hope that through the prayers of you all, I may be given to you.

23 Epaphras greets you (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus),

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you:

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-workmen!

so also do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.

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