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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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]

I thank my God always making mention of thee in my prayers,

5 and that you continue to trust in 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 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.

that the communication of thy faith may become effectual in the acknowledgement of all the good that is in you towards Christ Jesus:

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].

for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because by thee, dear brother, the bowels of the saints are refreshed.

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.

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

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].

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 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.

I intreat thee then for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

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!

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

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.

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

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].

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 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.

But I would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.

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)

For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever: (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.

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 you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive me.

If therefore thou accountest me a friend, receive him as thou wouldst receive me.

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).

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

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.

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/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.

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

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].

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

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.

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

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).

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

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).

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

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).

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