Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:
to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,
I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,
5 hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward all the saints.
6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;
And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.
7 for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.
8 Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit —
And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
9 because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;
yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!
10 I entreat thee concerning my child — whom I did beget in my bonds — Onesimus,
I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
11 who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,
Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
12 whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,
I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.
14 and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,
But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.
15 for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him, (aiōnios g166)
Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)
16 no more as a servant, but above a servant — a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.
17 If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
19 I, Paul did write with my hand, I — I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.
I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.
20 Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;
Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!
21 having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;
Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.
22 and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
23 Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, )
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
