Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

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

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church that is in your house:

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

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

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

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

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

hearing of your love and your faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,

6 That the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

that your participation in the faith may be active in the acknowledgment of every good thing that is in us, to the honor of Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

For we have great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command thee what is befitting,

Wherefore, though I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do that which is becoming,

9 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.

yet, on account of my love, I rather exhort you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

11 Who in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, my own heart:

I send him back, and do you receive him, that is, my son.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:

I did wish to keep him with me, that, in your stead, he might serve me in my bonds for the gospel;

14 But without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

but, without your consent, I was not willing to do any thing, that your good deed might not be as a matter of necessity, but one of free-will.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps, indeed, lie departed for a short time for this reason, that you might receive him forever; (aiōnios g166)

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

no longer as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially by me, and how much more by you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If, then, you regard me as a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee any thing, put that on my account;

But if he has done you any wrong, or owes you any thing, put that to my account.

19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it: although I do not say to thee that thou owest to me even thy own self besides.

I, Paul, do write it with my own hand, I will repay it; that I may not say to you, that you owe to me even yourself besides.

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.

Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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

22 But at the same time prepare for me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you.

At the same time, also, prepare me a lodging: for I hope that through the prayers of you all, I may be given to you.

23 There greet thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you:

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellowlabourers.

so also do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.

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