Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dearly-loved fellow labourer--
2 and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your house.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May grace be granted to you all, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
I give continual thanks to my God while making mention of you, my brother, in my prayers,
5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and which you manifest towards all God's people;
6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Christ.
praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward Christ.
7 For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
For I have found great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of God's people have been, and are, refreshed through you, my brother.
8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting,
9 yet on the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
10 I appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.
11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me.
12 I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,
I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.
13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.
15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)
For perhaps it was for this reason he was parted from you for a time, that you might receive him back wholly and for ever yours; (aiōnios g166)
16 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.
no longer as a slave, but as something better than a slave--a brother peculiarly dear to me, and even dearer to you, both as a servant and as a fellow Christian.
17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
If therefore you regard me as a comrade, receive him as if he were I myself.
18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
And if he was ever dishonest or is in your debt, debit me with the amount.
19 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).
I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.)
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.
22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
And at the same time provide accommodation for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be permitted to come to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus;
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of every one of you.
