Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,

Paul, a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.

and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the congregation in your house:

3 May grace be 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 Yeshua the Messiah.

4 I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.

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

5 I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.

hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Yeshua, and toward all the kadoshim;

6 I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.

that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Messiah.

7 For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the kadoshim have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,

Therefore, though I have all boldness in Messiah to command you that which is appropriate,

9 yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

yet on the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua.

10 I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.

I appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

11 For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.

I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,

13 I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

15 Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever. (aiōnios g166)

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)

16 No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.

But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

20 Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Messiah.

21 Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Messiah Yeshua, greets you,

24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit.