Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5 hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you briefly, that you would now have him wholly (aiōnios g166),

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.