Filemón 1

1 Pablo, prisionero de Jesucristo, y Timoteo nuestro hermano, a Filemón, nuestro querido ayudante en la fe,

[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 Y a Apia, nuestra hermana, y a Arquipo, nuestro hermano en el ejército de Dios, y a la iglesia en tu 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 Gracia y paz a ustedes de parte de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo.

[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 Alabaré a Dios en todo tiempo y oraré por ti,

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 Escuchando el amor y la fe que tienes para el Señor Jesús y para todos los santos;

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

6 Para que la fe que tienes en común con ellos obre con poder, en el conocimiento de todo lo bueno que hay en ti, para 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 Porque tuve gran gozo y consuelo en tu amor, porque los corazones de los santos se han fortalecido por medio de ti, hermano.

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 Y así, aunque podría, en nombre de Cristo, darte órdenes de hacer lo correcto,

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 Aún así, por amor, en lugar de una orden, te hago una petición, yo, Pablo, un anciano y ahora un prisionero de Cristo Jesús.

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 Mi petición es para mi hijo Onésimo, el hijo de mis cadenas,

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 Que en el pasado no te servía de nada, pero que ahora te beneficia a ti y a mí:

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 A quien he enviado a ti, tu, pues, recíbele como a mi mismo:

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 Aunque mi deseo era mantenerlo conmigo, ser mi siervo en las cadenas de las buenas nuevas, en tu lugar:

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 Pero sin tu aprobación no haría nada; para que tus buenas obras no sean forzadas, sino hechas libremente desde tu corazón.

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 Porque es posible que por esta razón él se separó de ti por un tiempo, para que puedas recibirlo para siempre; (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 Ya no como siervo, sino más que como siervo, como hermano, muy querido para mí especialmente, pero mucho más para ti, tanto en la carne como en el Señor.

[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 luego me llevas a ser tu amigo y hermano, acéptalo como a mí mismo.

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

18 Si él te ha hecho algo malo o está en deuda contigo por algo, póngalo en mi cuenta.

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 Yo, Pablo, escribiéndolo yo mismo, te digo: te pagaré; y no te digo que estás en deuda conmigo, por tu propia vida.

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 Así que hermano, como cristiano se generoso conmigo en él Señor: consuela mi corazón en 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 Estoy seguro de que harás mi deseo, te escribo, sabiendo que harás incluso más de lo que digo.

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 Y prepárame una habitación; porque espero que a través de sus oraciones pueda venir a ustedes.

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 Epafras, mi hermano, prisionero en Cristo Jesús, te envía saludos;

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 Y también Marcos, Aristarco, Demas y Lucas, mis hermanos trabajadores.

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 gracia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo sea derramada sobre ustedes. 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).