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 Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper,

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

And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:

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

Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

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

I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,

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

(When I heare of thy loue and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and towarde all Saintes)

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 thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.

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 haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.

8 Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaund thee that which is conuenient,

9 Yet, for loves sake, I rather exhort, —being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even a prisoner of Christ Jesus, —

Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.

10 I exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, —Onesimus:

I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,

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

Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,

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

Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels,

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 woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel.

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

But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.

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)

It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer, (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!

Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, euen as a brother beloued, specially to me: howe much more then vnto thee, 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 therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe.

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

If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.

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 haue written this with mine owne hande: I will recompense it, albeit I doe not say to thee, that thou owest moreouer vnto me euen thine owne selfe.

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

Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.

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

Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I 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.

Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.

23 There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,

There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,

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

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.

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

The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. ‘Written from Rome to Philemon, and send by Onesimus a seruant.’