Filemone 1

1 Paolo, prigioniero di Cristo Gesù, e il fratello Timòteo al nostro caro collaboratore Filèmone,

[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 alla sorella Appia, ad Archippo nostro compagno d'armi e alla comunità che si raduna nella tua casa:

[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 grazia a voi e pace da Dio nostro Padre e dal Signore Gesù Cristo.

[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 Rendo sempre grazie a Dio ricordandomi di te nelle mie preghiere,

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 perché sento parlare della tua carità per gli altri e della fede che hai nel Signore Gesù e verso tutti i santi.

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

6 La tua partecipazione alla fede diventi efficace per la conoscenza di tutto il bene che si fa tra voi per Cristo.

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 La tua carità è stata per me motivo di grande gioia e consolazione, fratello, poiché il cuore dei credenti è stato confortato per opera tua.

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 Per questo, pur avendo in Cristo piena libertà di comandarti ciò che devi fare,

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 preferisco pregarti in nome della carità, così qual io sono, Paolo, vecchio, e ora anche prigioniero per Cristo Gesù;

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 ti prego dunque per il mio figlio, che ho generato in catene,

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 Onesimo, quello che un giorno ti fu inutile, ma ora è utile a te e a 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 Te l'ho rimandato, lui, il mio cuore.

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 Avrei voluto trattenerlo presso di me perché mi servisse in vece tua nelle catene che porto per il vangelo.

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 Ma non ho voluto far nulla senza il tuo parere, perché il bene che farai non sapesse di costrizione, ma fosse spontaneo.

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 Forse per questo è stato separato da te per un momento perché tu lo riavessi per sempre; (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 non più però come schiavo, ma molto più che schiavo, come un fratello carissimo in primo luogo a me, ma quanto più a te, sia come uomo, sia come fratello nel Signore.

[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 Se dunque tu mi consideri come amico, accoglilo come me stesso.

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

18 E se in qualche cosa ti ha offeso o ti è debitore, metti tutto sul mio conto.

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 Lo scrivo di mio pugno, io, Paolo: pagherò io stesso. Per non dirti che anche tu mi sei debitore e proprio di te stesso!

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 Sì, fratello! Che io possa ottenere da te questo favore nel Signore; dà questo sollievo al mio cuore in Cristo!

(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 Ti scrivo fiducioso nella tua docilità, sapendo che farai anche più di quanto ti chiedo.

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 Al tempo stesso preparami un alloggio, perché spero, grazie alle vostre preghiere, di esservi restituito.

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 Ti saluta Epafra, mio compagno di prigionia per Cristo Gesù,

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 con Marco, Aristarco, Dema e Luca, miei collaboratori.

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 La grazia del Signore Gesù Cristo sia con il vostro spirito.

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