Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy, the brother, to Philemon, the beloved, and our fellow-laborer;

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia, the beloved; and to Archippus, our fellow-soldier, and to the congregation in your house:

and also to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in yoʋr house:

3 Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our 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 give thanks to my God, always making mention of yoʋ in my prayers,

5 (having heard of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and of your love to all the saints)--

because I hear of yoʋr love for all the saints and the faith that yoʋ have toward the Lord Jesus.

6 that the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledgment of every good thing that is among us, toward Christ Jesus.

I pray that yoʋr fellowship with us in the faith may be effective in deepening yoʋr understanding of every blessing that we have in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have much joy and consolation in your love; because the souls of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.

We are very thankful for the comfort we have received from yoʋr love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through yoʋ, brother.

8 Wherefore, thought I might be bold in Christ, to enjoin you what is fit;

Therefore, although I am bold enough in Christ to command yoʋ to do what is right,

9 yet, for love's sake, I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now, also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I would rather appeal to yoʋ on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner for Jesus Christ,

10 I beseech you for my son, whom I have begot, in my bonds, even Onesimus;

appeal to yoʋ on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

11 who formerly was to you unprofitable, but now will be very profitable to you, even as he has been to me--

Once he was useless to yoʋ, but now he is useful both to yoʋ and to me. I am sending him back,

12 whom I have sent back: do you, therefore, receive him as an object of my tenderest affection;

and I ask yoʋ to receive him, that is, my very own heart.

13 whom I was desirous to have detained with myself, that, in your stead, he might have ministered to me, in these bonds, for the gospel:

I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in yoʋr place during my imprisonment for the gospel.

14 but without your mind I would do nothing, that the good derived might not be as if by constraint, but as voluntary.

But I did not want to do anything without yoʋr consent, so that yoʋr good deed would not be done out of compulsion, but of yoʋr own free will.

15 Perhaps, also, for this reason he was separated for a little while, that you might have him for ever: (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps the reason he was separated from yoʋ for an hour was so that yoʋ might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a slave only, but above a slave, 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, as a beloved brother, especially to me, but even more so to yoʋ, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If, then, you hold me as a partner, receive him as myself.

So if yoʋ consider me to be a partner, receive him as yoʋ would receive me.

18 And if he had injured you in anything, or owes you, place it to my account.

If he has wronged yoʋ in any way or owes yoʋ anything, charge it to me.

19 I, Paul, have written with my own hand--I will repay. I forbear to urge upon you, that you owe to me even your ownself.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention that yoʋ owe me yoʋr very own life).

20 I beseech you brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord-- gratify my tender affections for Christ's sake.

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from yoʋ in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you will even do more than I ask.

Trusting in yoʋr obedience, I write to yoʋ, knowing that yoʋ will do even more than I ask.

22 But at the same time, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers, I shall be granted to you.

At the same time, I want yoʋ to prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you soon.

23 These salute you, Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus;

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,

24 Mark, Aristarchus; Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers.

and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, greet yoʋ.

25 The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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