Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,

2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

and to the beloved Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg) house:

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

Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

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

I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,

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

hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,

6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

so that the sharing of your (sg) faith may become powerful through a full understanding of every good thing that is among you (pl) who are in Christ Jesus;

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

yes, we have much thanksgiving and encouragement because of your (sg) love, in that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

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

Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I—being none other than Paul the old man and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ—would rather appeal to you, for love's sake.

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

I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus, whom I am sending back

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

—formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

So receive him, who is my very heart

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

—I would have liked to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me in your place, while I am in chains for the Gospel,

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

but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.

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

Perhaps this is why he was removed for a while, so that you would have him forever (aiōnios g166)

16 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.

—no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, very much to me but even more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.

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

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.

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

If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.

19 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).

I, Paul, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).

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

Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.

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

But meanwhile, do prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your (pl) prayers I will be graciously bestowed on you (pl).

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

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),

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

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

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your (pl) spirit. Amen.