Philemonem 1
1 Paulus vinctus Christi Jesu, et Timotheus frater, Philemoni dilecto, et adjutori nostro,
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dearly-loved fellow labourer--
2 et Appiæ sorori carissimæ, et Archippo commilitoni nostro, et ecclesiæ, quæ in domo tua est.
and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your house.
3 Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo.
May grace be granted to you all, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Gratias ago Deo meo, semper memoriam tui faciens in orationibus meis,
I give continual thanks to my God while making mention of you, my brother, in my prayers,
5 audiens caritatem tuam, et fidem, quam habes in Domino Jesu, et in omnes sanctos:
because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and which you manifest towards all God's people;
6 ut communicatio fidei tuæ evidens fiat in agnitione omnis operis boni, quod est in vobis in Christo Jesu.
praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward Christ.
7 Gaudium enim magnum habui, et consolationem in caritate tua: quia viscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.
For I have found great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of God's people have been, and are, refreshed through you, my brother.
8 Propter quod multam fiduciam habens in Christo Jesu imperandi tibi quod ad rem pertinet:
Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting,
9 propter caritatem magis obsecro, cum sis talis, ut Paulus senex, nunc autem et vinctus Jesu Christi:
it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
10 obsecro te pro meo filio, quem genui in vinculis, Onesimo,
I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.
11 qui tibi aliquando inutilis fuit, nunc autem et mihi et tibi utilis,
Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me.
12 quem remisi tibi. Tu autem illum, ut mea viscera, suscipe:
I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.
13 quem ego volueram mecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis Evangelii:
It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.
14 sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere, uti ne velut ex necessitate bonum tuum esset, sed voluntarium.
Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.
For perhaps it was for this reason he was parted from you for a time, that you might receive him back wholly and for ever yours; (aiōnios g166)
16 jam non ut servum, sed pro servo carissimum fratrem, maxime mihi: quanto autem magis tibi et in carne, et in Domino?
no longer as a slave, but as something better than a slave--a brother peculiarly dear to me, and even dearer to you, both as a servant and as a fellow Christian.
17 Si ergo habes me socium, suscipe illum sicut me:
If therefore you regard me as a comrade, receive him as if he were I myself.
18 si autem aliquid nocuit tibi, aut debet, hoc mihi imputa.
And if he was ever dishonest or is in your debt, debit me with the amount.
19 Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu: ego reddam, ut non dicam tibi, quod et teipsum mihi debes:
I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.)
20 ita, frater. Ego te fruar in Domino: refice viscera mea in Domino.
Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confidens in obedientia tua scripsi tibi: sciens quoniam et super id, quod dico, facies.
I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.
22 Simul autem et para mihi hospitium: nam spero per orationes vestras donari me vobis.
And at the same time provide accommodation for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be permitted to come to you.
23 Salutat te Epaphras concaptivus meus in Christo Jesu,
Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, et Lucas, adjutores mei.
and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of every one of you.
