Philemon 1
1 From Paul, now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, a fellow follower of the Lord.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
2 To our dear friend and fellow worker Philemon, to our sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus; and to the church that meets at Philemon’s house;
and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:
3 may God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
4 I always mention you in my prayers and thank God for you,
I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,
5 because I hear of the love and the faith which you show, not only to the Lord Jesus, but also to all his people;
hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6 and I pray that your participation in the faith may result in action, as you come to a fuller realization of everything that is good and Christlike in us.
that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;
7 I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ’s people have been cheered, friend, by you.
for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
8 And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt,
Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit —
9 yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you – yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.
because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;
10 I plead with you for this child of mine, Onesimus, to whom, in my prison, I have become a father.
I entreat thee concerning my child — whom I did beget in my bonds — Onesimus,
11 Once he was of little service to you, but now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well;
who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,
12 and I am sending him back to you with this letter – though it is like tearing out of my heart.
whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,
13 For my own sake I should like to keep him with me, so that, while I am in prison for the good news, he might attend to my wants on your behalf.
whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,
14 But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, because I want your generosity to be voluntary and not, as it were, compulsory.
and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,
15 It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this reason, so that you might have him back for ever, (aiōnios g166)
for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him, (aiōnios g166)
16 no longer as a slave, but as something better – a dearly loved friend and follower of the Lord, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as a person, but as your fellow Christian!
no more as a servant, but above a servant — a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!
17 If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me.
If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,
18 If he has caused you any loss, or owes you anything, charge it to me.
and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;
19 I, Paul, put my own hand to it – I will repay you myself. I say nothing about your owing me your self.
I, Paul did write with my hand, I — I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.
20 Yes, friend, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit.
Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;
21 Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking.
having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;
22 Please also get a lodging ready for me, for I hope that I will be given back to you all in answer to your prayers.
and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
23 Epaphras, who is my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, sends you his greeting;
Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, )
24 and Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, send theirs.
Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!
25 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.
