Philemon 1

1 Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother, —unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours,

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

2 And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, and unto the assembly which meeteth, at thy house:

and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in your house:

3 Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

4 I am giving thanks unto my God—always, making mention, of thee, in my prayers,

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

5 Hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints, —

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

6 To the end that, the fellowship of thy faith, may become, energetic, by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards 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, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them by thee, 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 Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

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

9 Yet, for loves sake, I rather exhort, —being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even 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 exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, —Onesimus:

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

11 Him who, at one time, was, unto thee, unserviceable, but, now, unto thee and unto me, serviceable;

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

12 Whom I have sent back unto thee—him, that is, my own, tender affections!—

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

13 Whom, I, was minded, with myself, to detain, that, in thy behalf, unto me, he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message;

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, apart from thy mind, I wished to do, nothing, that, not as by necessity, thy goodness should be, but, by choice.

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, peradventure, for this cause, was he separated for an hour, that, as an age-abiding possession, thou mightest have him back, — (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 servant, but above a servant—a brother beloved, very greatly to me, but, how much rather, to thee—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, therefore, thou holdest me as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, as myself;

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

18 And, if he hath wronged thee at all or oweth thee aught, the same, unto me, do thou reckon: —

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

19 I, Paul, have written [it] with, my own, hand, —I, will repay [it]; that I may not tell thee—that, thyself, unto me, thou still owest.

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

20 Yea! brother, I, would, from thee, have help, in the Lord: give rest unto my tender affections in Christ.

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

21 Confident of thine obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that, even beyond what I say, thou wilt do: —

I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may say;

22 At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto 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 There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,

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

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, —my fellow-workers.

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

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

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