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

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

Grace 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 you 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 of the faith which you have toward 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 the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in 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 much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

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

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

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 for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,

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

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

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

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own 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,

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

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 was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have 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 slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

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

If then you count 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 at all or owes you anything, 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, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self 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 from 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 beyond what 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.

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for 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, greets you,

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 our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.