Philemon 1

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

Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother, —unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours,

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

And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, and unto the assembly which meeteth, at thy house:

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

Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I am giving thanks unto 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 of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards 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;

To the end that, the fellowship of thy faith, may become, energetic, by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards 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, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them by thee, brother.

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

Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

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 loves sake, I rather exhort, —being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even a prisoner of Christ Jesus, —

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

I exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, —Onesimus:

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

Him who, at one time, was, unto thee, unserviceable, but, now, unto thee and unto me, serviceable;

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

Whom I have sent back unto thee—him, that is, my own, tender affections!—

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, was minded, with myself, to detain, that, in thy behalf, unto me, he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message;

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, apart from thy mind, I wished to do, nothing, that, not as by necessity, thy goodness should be, but, by choice.

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

For, peradventure, for this cause, was he separated for an hour, that, as an age-abiding possession, thou mightest have him back, — (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, very greatly to me, but, how much rather, to 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 as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, as myself;

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

And, if he hath wronged thee at all or oweth thee aught, the same, unto me, do thou reckon: —

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 written [it] with, my own, hand, —I, will repay [it]; that I may not tell thee—that, thyself, unto me, thou still owest.

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

Yea! brother, I, would, from thee, have help, in the Lord: give rest unto my tender affections 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 thine obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that, even beyond what I say, thou wilt do: —

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, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you.

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

There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,

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

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, —my fellow-workers.

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

The favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with your spirit.