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 a brother, to Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-labourer,

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

and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at thy house:

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

grace be to you, 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 always, making mention of thee 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 thy love and faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and unto 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 there may be an operative communication of thy faith made known by every good thing, which is in you towards Jesus 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.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

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

Wherefore, though I have in Christ great liberty to enjoin thee what 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;

I rather for love’s sake entreat, being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ.

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

I entreat thee for my son, whom I have begotten during my bonds, Onesimus:

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

who in time past hath been an unprofitable servant to thee, but now very profitable to thee and to me:

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

whom I have sent back; thou therefore receive him, even as my own bowels:

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

whom I wished to detain about myself, that in thy stead he might have waited upon me during 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 thy consent would I do nothing; that this good deed of thine might not be as of necessity, but from thy own choice.

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

For to this end perhaps was he separated from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever; (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 above a slave, as a brother beloved, especially by me, but how much more by thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

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

If therefore thou holdest me a sharer with thee, receive him as myself.

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

If he hath injured thee or oweth thee ought, 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 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.

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

Yea, brother, I wish to have joy in thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels 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 thy obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do 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.

But at the same time prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

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

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;

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

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-labourers.

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Amen. Written to Philemon from Rome, by Onesimus one of his household.