Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

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

to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

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

Grace and peace to you 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 always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

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

because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for 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;

I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

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

I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

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

So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

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

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

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

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

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

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

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

I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

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 would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains 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 I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

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

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— (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 slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

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

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it 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, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

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

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

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

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

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.

In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

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

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

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

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.