Philemonem 1
1 Paulus vinctus Christi Iesu, et Timotheus frater: Philemoni dilecto, et adiutori nostro,
[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 et Appiæ sorori charissimæ, et Archippo commilitoni nostro, et Ecclesiæ, quæ in domo tua est.
[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 Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Iesu Christo.
[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 Gratias ago Deo meo, semper memoriam tui faciens in orationibus meis,
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 audiens charitatem tuam, et fidem, quam habes in Domino Iesu, et in omnes sanctos:
and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.
6 ut communicatio fidei tuæ evidens fiat in agnitione omnis operis boni, quod est in vobis in Christo Iesu.
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 Gaudium enim magnum habui, et consolationem in charitate tua: quia viscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.
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 Propter quod multam fiduciam habens in Christo Iesu imperandi tibi quod ad rem pertinet:
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 propter charitatem magis obsecro, cum sis talis, ut Paulus senex, nunc autem et vinctus Iesu Christi:
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 Obsecro te pro meo filio, quem genui in vinculis, Onesimo,
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 qui tibi aliquando inutilis fuit, nunc autem et mihi, et tibi utilis,
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 quem remisi tibi. Tu autem illum, ut mea viscera, suscipe:
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 quem ego volueram mecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis Evangelii:
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 sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere, uti ne velut ex necessitate bonum tuum esset, sed voluntarium.
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.
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 iam non ut servum, sed pro servo charissimum fratrem, maxime mihi: quanto autem magis tibi et in carne, et in Domino?
[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 Si ergo habes me socium, suscipe illum sicut me:
So, if you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive me.
18 Si autem aliquid nocuit tibi, aut debet: hoc mihi imputa.
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 Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu: ego reddam, ut non dicam tibi, quod et teipsum mihi debes:
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 ita frater. Ego te fruar in Domino: Refice viscera mea in Christo.
(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 Confidens in obedientia tua scripsi tibi: sciens quoniam et super id, quod dico, facies.
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 Simul autem et para mihi hospitium: nam spero per orationes vestras donari me vobis.
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 Salutat te Epaphras concaptivus meus in Christo Iesu,
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, et Lucas, adiutores mei.
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 Gratia Domini nostri Iesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Amen.
[I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).
