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 our beloved brother and fellow-laborer, and to the beloved Apphia,

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

and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thine house,

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

grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from 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 the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and of thy love to 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 communication of thy faith may become effectual in the acknowledgement of all the good that is in you towards 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 thy love, because by thee, dear brother, the bowels of the saints are refreshed.

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

Wherefore though I have sufficient authority in Christ to enjoin thee what is meet,

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 would rather intreat thee out of love to me, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner too for the sake of Jesus Christ.

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

I intreat thee then for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

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

who was formerly unprofitable to thee, but now profitable both to thee and to me; whom I have sent back to thee:

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

him therefore, as my own bowels, do thou receive.

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 would gladly have kept with me, that he might have ministered unto me as thou wouldst have done, in the bonds 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 would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.

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

For perhaps he was therefore parted 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!

not now as a servant, but above a servant, a dear brother, especially to me, and how much more 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 accountest me a friend, receive him as thou wouldst receive me.

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

If he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is indebted to thee, place it to my accompt:

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 pay it: not to say that thou indeed owest even thy own self to me.

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

Yea, my brother, let me enjoy this satisfaction from thee in the Lord: and thus 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;

Being fully persuaded of thy compliance, I have written to thee; knowing that thou wilt indeed do 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.

But I must add, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be restored to you.

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

Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, and Marcus,

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

Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

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.