Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;

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

And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is 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 from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee 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 charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the 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 be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that 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 I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

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

Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:

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.

For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also 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, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

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

Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

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

Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my 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 to me in the bands 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 counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again 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 instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to 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 therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

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

And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my 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 my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.

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

Yea, brother. May I enjoy 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.

Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to 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 hope 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 fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

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

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.

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.