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 Christ Jesus, and Timothy a brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow-laborer, and to the beloved Apphia,

2 and also to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in yoʋr house:

and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thine house,

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

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

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

I thank my God always making mention of thee 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 the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and of thy love to all the 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 thy faith may become effectual in the acknowledgement of all the good that is in you towards 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 much joy and comfort in thy love, because by thee, dear brother, the bowels of the saints are refreshed.

8 Therefore, although I am bold enough in Christ to command yoʋ to do what is right,

Wherefore though I have sufficient authority in Christ to enjoin thee what is meet,

9 I would rather appeal to yoʋ on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner for Jesus Christ,

I would rather intreat thee out of love to me, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner too for the sake of Jesus Christ.

10 appeal to yoʋ on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

I intreat thee then 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,

who was formerly unprofitable to thee, but now profitable both to thee and to me; whom I have sent back to thee:

12 and I ask yoʋ to receive him, that is, my very own heart.

him therefore, as my own bowels, do thou receive.

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 gladly have kept with me, that he might have ministered unto me as thou wouldst have done, 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 I would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.

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 was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou mightest 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 dear brother, especially to me, and how much more to thee 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 therefore thou accountest me a friend, receive him as thou wouldst receive me.

18 If he has wronged yoʋ in any way or owes yoʋ anything, charge it to me.

If he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is indebted to thee, place it to my accompt:

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 my own hand, I will pay it: not to say that thou indeed owest even thy own self to me.

20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from yoʋ in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Yea, my brother, let me enjoy this satisfaction from thee in the Lord: and thus 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.

Being fully persuaded of thy compliance, I have written to thee; knowing that thou wilt indeed do more than I ask.

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 I must add, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be restored to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,

Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, and Marcus,

24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, greet yoʋ.

Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

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

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