Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dearly-loved fellow labourer--

[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.

2 and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your house.

[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.

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

[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.

4 I give continual thanks to my God while making mention of you, my brother, in my prayers,

I always thank my God when I pray for you [(sg)], because I hear [people say that] you love all God’s people [CHI]

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and which you manifest towards all God's people;

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

6 praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward Christ.

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.

7 For I have found great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of God's people have been, and are, refreshed through you, my brother.

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].

8 Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting,

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.

9 it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

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].

10 I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.

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.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me.

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!

12 I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.

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.

13 It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

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].

14 Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.

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.

15 For perhaps it was for this reason he was parted from you for a time, that you might receive him back wholly and for ever yours; (aiōnios g166)

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)

16 no longer as a slave, but as something better than a slave--a brother peculiarly dear to me, and even dearer to you, both as a servant and as a fellow Christian.

[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.

17 If therefore you regard me as a comrade, receive him as if he were I myself.

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

18 And if he was ever dishonest or is in your debt, debit me with the amount.

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).

19 I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.)

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.

20 Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

(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.

21 I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.

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].

22 And at the same time provide accommodation for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be permitted to come to you.

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.

23 Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus;

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).

24 and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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).

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of every one of you.

[I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).