Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,

2 and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.

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

May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,

I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.

5 hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.

6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;

I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.

7 for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

8 Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit —

Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,

9 because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

10 I entreat thee concerning my child — whom I did beget in my bonds — Onesimus,

I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.

11 who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,

For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

12 whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.

13 whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,

I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.

14 and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.

15 for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him, (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever. (aiōnios g166)

16 no more as a servant, but above a servant — a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,

So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

18 and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;

If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.

19 I, Paul did write with my hand, I — I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!

20 Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;

Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;

Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.

22 and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

23 Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, )

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

24 Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!

So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.