Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,

2 and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.

3 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God at all times, making mention of thee in my prayers,

I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.

5 hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.

6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us, for Christ Jesus.

I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.

7 For we have great thankfulness and comfort on account of thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

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

8 Wherefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to enjoin upon thee that which is befitting,

Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,

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

yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I begot in my bonds, Onesimus;

I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.

11 who in time past was unprofitable to thee, but is now profitable to thee and to me;

For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

12 whom I have sent back; and do thou [[receive]] him, that is, my own flesh.

I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel;

I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.

14 but I chose to do nothing without thy consent, that thy benefit may be not as from necessity, but willingly.

But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.

15 For perhaps he was separated from thee for a season to this end, that thou shouldst receive him back as thine for ever; (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever. (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a bond-servant, but above a bond-servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord!

No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If thou then regardest me as a partner, receive him as myself.

So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

18 And if he wronged thee in anything, or oweth thee, put that to my account.

If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.

19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it; not to say to thee, that to me thou owest even thy own self besides.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And at the same time make ready a lodging for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus,

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

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

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