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 the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,

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

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.

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

May 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 always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.

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

I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.

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 the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us 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.

For I have had much joy and comfort because of 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—

Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,

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 because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

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

I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.

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

For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

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

I have sent him back to you, he 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 wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of 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. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.

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

Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back 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 would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.

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

So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

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

If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.

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 myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!

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

Yes, brother, do me a favor 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 about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know 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.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

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

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

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

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

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

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