Philemon 1
1 [I], Paul, am a prisoner [who serves] Christ Jesus. [I am here] with Timothy, our fellow believer. [I am writing this letter] to [you], Philemon, our dear [friend] and fellow worker.
Pau Gefangener Christi Jesu, und Timotheus, der Bruder, an Philemon, unseren geliebten Mitarbeiter,
2 [I am also writing] to [your wife], Apphia, and to Archippus, [who is like] [MET] our fellow soldier [because he serves Christ steadfastly together with us]. I am also [writing this] to the congregation [that meets/gathers] in your [(sg)] house.
und an die Schwester Appia, an unseren Mitkämpfer Archippus und an die Gemeinde in deinem Hause.
3 [I pray that] God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to] act kindly toward you all and [will continue to] cause you to have [inner] peace.
Gnade werde euch zuteil und Friede von Gott, unserem Vater, und von dem Herrn Jesus Christus.
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you [(sg)], because I hear [people say that] you love all God’s people [CHI]
Ich danke meinem Gott allezeit, sooft ich bei meinem Beten deiner gedenke,
5 and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.
da ich höre, wie du Liebe und Glauben an den Herrn Jesus und für alle Heiligen hast.
6 I pray that as a result of your knowing all the good things [that God/Christ has done for] us, you may (be effective/influence many others) as you tell others what you believe, in order that [they may honor] Christ.
Möchte doch dein Glaube, der uns gemeinsam ist, sich in der Tat bewähren auf Christus hin in richtiger Erkenntnis all des Guten, das unter uns vorhanden ist.
7 I have rejoiced greatly and have been greatly encouraged because you, my dear friend, have acted lovingly toward God’s people by encouraging them [SYN].
Viel Freude und viel Trost habe ich aus deiner Liebe geschöpft; an dir, o Bruder, erquicken sich ja die Herzen der Heiligen.
8 So [I have a request/favor to ask of you]. I am completely confident [that I have authority] to command you [to do] what you ought to do, because [I am an apostle of] Christ.
Nun hätte ich allerdings das volle Recht in Christus, dir zu befehlen, was du tun sollst.
9 But because [I know that you] love [God’s people], I request this instead of [commanding you to do it]. It is I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner [because I serve] Christ Jesus, [who am requesting it].
Doch um der Liebe willen ziehe ich es vor zu bitten, so wie ich, der alte Paulus, nun einmal bin, dazu noch jetzt Gefesselter um Christi Jesu willen.
10 I request that you [do something] for someone [who has become like] my own son [because I told him about Christ] [MET] while [I have been] a prisoner [MTY] [here. His name is] Onesimus.
Ich bitte dich für mein Kind, dem ich im Gefängnis das Leben gab, für den Onesimus.
11 Although [his name, as you know, means ‘useful’], formerly he was useless to you. But now he is useful both to you and to me!
Einst war er dir unnütz, doch jetzt ist er für dich und auch für mich von großem Nutzen.
12 Although (he is [as dear to me as/I love him as much as I love]) [MET] my own self [MTY], I am sending him back to you.
Ich schicke ihn dir zurück; nimm ihn, oder besser mein Herz, wohl auf!
13 I would like to have kept him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf, while I am a prisoner [MTY] [because of my preaching] the message [about Christ].
Gern hätte ich ihn bei mir zurückbehalten, damit er an deiner Statt mir Dienste leiste in meinen Banden für das Evangelium.
14 Nevertheless, because [I had not yet asked you and] you had not yet permitted me [to keep him here with me], I decided not to [keep him here. I decided that I should] not do anything without your permitting it. [I decided that you should help me only if you] really want to help me.
Doch ohne deine Zustimmung wollte ich nichts tun, damit das Gute, das du tust, nicht erzwungen scheine, vielmehr freiwillig geschehe.
15 Perhaps the reason that [God permitted] Onesimus to be separated from {to leave} you for a little while was that [he would believe in Christ, and as a result] you would have him (back/with you) forever! (aiōnios g166)
Vielleicht hat er sich deshalb auf kurze Zeit von dir getrennt, damit du ihn auf ewig zurückerhieltest, (aiōnios g166)
16 [You will no longer have him only] as a slave. Instead, [you will have him] as [someone who is] more than a slave. [You will have him] as a fellow believer! He is especially dear to me, but he certainly will be more dear to you [than he is to me] (OR, I love him very much, but you will certainly love him more than I do), [because now he] not only belongs to you but he also belongs to the Lord.
nicht mehr als Sklaven, sondern weit mehr als einen Sklaven, als einen vielgeliebten Bruder. Dies ist er mir vor allem; wieviel mehr wird er dir es sein als Mensch und auch als Christ.
17 So, if you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive me.
Wenn du dich mit mir einig fühlst, so nimm ihn auf wie mich.
18 If he has wronged you in any manner or if he owes you anything, (charge that to me/tell me so that I can pay you).
Doch brachte er dich in Schaden oder schuldet er dir noch etwas, so setze dies mir auf die Rechnung.
19 I, Paul, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you what he owes you, although I might mention to you that you owe me even more than Onesimus may owe you, because it was the result of my telling you about Christ that God saved you.
Ich, Paulus, gebe es dir mit eigener Hand schriftlich: Ich werde es bezahlen. Davon allerdings will ich nicht reden, daß du sogar dich selbst mir schuldest.
20 (Yes/I say it again), my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] [by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe] in Christ.
Lieber Bruder: Ich möchte im Herrn ein Nutzungsrecht an deiner Person ausüben; bereite in Christus meinem Herzen eine Freude!
21 I have written [this letter] to you, confident that you will do what I am requesting you to [do]. [In fact], I know that you will do even more than what I am requesting [you to do].
Auf dein Entgegenkommen fest vertrauend, schreibe ich dir; ich weiß, du tust noch mehr als ich verlange.
22 Also, keep a guest room ready for me [to stay in], because I confidently expect that as a result of your prayers [for me, I] will be released [from prison and will come] to you all.
Bereite mir zugleich ein Gastzimmer; habe ich doch die Hoffnung, daß ich dank eurer Gebete euch geschenkt werde.
23 Epaphras, who is [suffering] with me in prison because of [his serving] Christ Jesus, (sends his greetings to you/wants you to know that he is thinking fondly about you).
Es grüßen dich Epaphras, mein Mitgefangener in Christus Jesus,
24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who are my [other] fellow workers, also (send their greetings to you/want you to know that they are thinking fondly about you).
und Markus, Aristarch, Demas und Lukas, meine Mitarbeiter.
25 [I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).
Die Gnade des Herrn Jesus Christus sei mit eurem Geiste! Amen.
