Philemon 1

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

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

2 and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and 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 thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

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

5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

hearing of your love and faith that you have to the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones,

6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Christ.

that the fellowship of your faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;

7 For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

for we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the yearnings of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

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

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

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.

because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

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

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

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

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

12 I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,

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

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

whom I intended to retain to myself, that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of 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.

but apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness,

15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)

for perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, that you may have him continuously, (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 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!

17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

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

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, wrote with my hand, I will repay; besides, that I may not say that you also owe to me yourself.

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

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

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may 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 also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

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

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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