Philemon 1

1 Paulus, Gefangener Christus Jesus' und Timotheus der Bruder an Philemon unseren teueren Mitarbeiter

[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 und die Schwester Appia und Archippus, unseren Mitstreiter und die Gemeinde deines Hauses:

[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 Gnade euch und Friede von Gott unserem Vater und dem Herrn Jesus Christus.

[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 Ich danke meinem Gott allezeit, indem ich deiner gedenke in meinen Gebeten,

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 da ich höre von deiner Liebe und dem Glauben, den du hast zu dem Herrn Jesus und für alle Heiligen:

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

6 auf daß der Anteil an deinem Glauben wirksam werden möge in der Erkenntnis alles Guten, was unter euch ist, für Christus.

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 Denn ich hatte viel Freude und Trost über deiner Liebe, weil die Herzen der Heiligen durch dich erquickt sind, Bruder.

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 Darum obwohl ich in Christus mich ganz berechtigt weiß, dir vorzuschreiben, was sich ziemt,

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 ziehe ich doch um der Liebe willen vor, dich zu bitten. Siehe mich an: ich Paulus, ein Greis, jetzt auch Gefangener Christus 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 bitte dich für mein Kind, das ich gezeugt in meinen Ketten, den 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 der dir einst wenig wert, jetzt aber dir und mir hoch wert geworden:

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 Ich schicke ihn zurück, ich schicke dir mein Herz damit.

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 Gerne hätte ich ihn behalten, daß er mir statt deiner diene in den Banden des Evangeliums;

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 aber ich wollte nichts thun ohne dein Einverständnis, damit nicht die Wohlthat von dir wie gezwungen herauskomme; sie sollte freiwillig sein.

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 Ist er doch vielleicht eben darum auf eine kurze Zeit dir genommen worden, damit du ihn auf ewig hättest, (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 nicht mehr als Knecht, sondern als etwas viel besseres, als geliebten Bruder - mir gewiß, wie sollte er es dir nicht noch mehr sein im Fleisch sowohl als im Herrn.

[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 Wenn ich dir Mitgenosse bin, so nimm ihn an wie mich.

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

18 Hat er dir aber Schaden gethan oder schuldet dir, so schreibe es auf meine Rechnung.

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 Ich Paulus schreibe es eigenhändig: ich werde es bezahlen; ich will nicht davon reden, daß du dich selbst mir schuldest.

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 Ja, Bruder, ich möchte von dir etwas haben im Herrn, erquicke mein Herz in Christus.

(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 Im Vertrauen auf deine Willigkeit schreibe ich dir; ich weiß, daß du mehr thust als ich sage.

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 Rüste dich auch mich zum Gaste zu haben; ich hoffe daß ich euch durch euer Gebet wiedergeschenkt werde.

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 Es grüßt dich Epaphras mein Mitgefangener in Christus 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 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas und Lukas, meine Mitarbeiter.

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 Die Gnade unseres Herrn Jesus Christus mit eurem Geiste.

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