Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow worker,
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer,
2 and also to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in yoʋr house:
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church 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 give thanks to my God, always making mention of yoʋ in my prayers,
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
5 because I hear of yoʋr love for all the saints and the faith that yoʋ have toward the Lord Jesus.
Hearing of your love (agape) and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 I pray that yoʋr fellowship with us in the faith may be effective in deepening yoʋr understanding of every blessing that we have in Christ Jesus.
That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 We are very thankful for the comfort we have received from yoʋr love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through yoʋ, brother.
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, (agape) because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.
8 Therefore, although I am bold enough in Christ to command yoʋ to do what is right,
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to admonish you that which is convenient,
9 I would rather appeal to yoʋ on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner for Jesus Christ,
Yet for love's (agape) sake I rather plead to you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 appeal to yoʋ on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.
I plead to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Once he was useless to yoʋ, but now he is useful both to yoʋ and to me. I am sending him back,
Which in time past was to you useless, but now profitable to you and to me:
12 and I ask yoʋ to receive him, that is, my very own heart.
Whom I have sent again: you therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in yoʋr place during my imprisonment for the gospel.
Whom I would have retained with me, that in your position he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But I did not want to do anything without yoʋr consent, so that yoʋr good deed would not be done out of compulsion, but of yoʋr own free will.
But without your mind would I do nothing; that your benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from yoʋ for an hour was so that yoʋ might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)
For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever; (aiōnios g166)
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me, but even more so to yoʋ, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 So if yoʋ consider me to be a partner, receive him as yoʋ would receive me.
If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he has wronged yoʋ in any way or owes yoʋ anything, charge it to me.
If he has wronged you, or owes you ought, put that on mine account;
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention that yoʋ owe me yoʋr very own life).
I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: although it be I do not say to you how you owe unto me even your own self besides.
20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from yoʋ in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
Yea, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Trusting in yoʋr obedience, I write to yoʋ, knowing that yoʋ will do even more than I ask.
Having confidence in your obedience I wrote unto you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.
22 At the same time, I want yoʋ to prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you soon.
But likewise prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,
There salute you Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, greet yoʋ.
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (pneuma) Amen.
