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 Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy 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 Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.
I thank my God, making mention of thee always 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 thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
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 communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
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 we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
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 would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
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 without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
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 therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (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.
Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.
If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.
If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine 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 have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.
Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than 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.
But withal 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, greets you.
There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.
