Philemonem 1
1 Paulus vinctus Iesu Christi 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 Appiae sorori et Archippo commilitoni nostro et ecclesiae quae 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 caritatem 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 tuae evidens fiat in agnitione omnis boni in nobis 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 caritate 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 habentes 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 caritatem 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 de 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 tibi et mihi 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 tu autem illum id est 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 plus servo carissimum 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 inputa
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 te ipsum 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 Domino
(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 oboedientia 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 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).
