Προς Φιλημονα 1
1 παυλος δεσμιος χριστου ιησου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος φιλημονι τω αγαπητω και συνεργω ημων
From Paul, now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, a fellow follower of the Lord.
2 και απφια τη αγαπητη και αρχιππω τω συστρατιωτη ημων και τη κατ οικον σου εκκλησια
To our dear friend and fellow worker Philemon, to our sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus; and to the church that meets at Philemon’s house;
3 χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου
may God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
4 ευχαριστω τω θεω μου παντοτε μνειαν σου ποιουμενος επι των προσευχων μου
I always mention you in my prayers and thank God for you,
5 ακουων σου την αγαπην και την πιστιν ην εχεις προς τον κυριον ιησουν και εις παντας τους αγιους
because I hear of the love and the faith which you show, not only to the Lord Jesus, but also to all his people;
6 οπως η κοινωνια της πιστεως σου ενεργης γενηται εν επιγνωσει παντος αγαθου του εν ημιν εις χριστον ιησουν
and I pray that your participation in the faith may result in action, as you come to a fuller realization of everything that is good and Christlike in us.
7 χαριν γαρ εχομεν πολλην και παρακλησιν επι τη αγαπη σου οτι τα σπλαγχνα των αγιων αναπεπαυται δια σου αδελφε
I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ’s people have been cheered, friend, by you.
8 διο πολλην εν χριστω παρρησιαν εχων επιτασσειν σοι το ανηκον
And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt,
9 δια την αγαπην μαλλον παρακαλω τοιουτος ων ως παυλος πρεσβυτης νυνι δε και δεσμιος ιησου χριστου
yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you – yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.
10 παρακαλω σε περι του εμου τεκνου ον εγεννησα εν τοις δεσμοις μου ονησιμον
I plead with you for this child of mine, Onesimus, to whom, in my prison, I have become a father.
11 τον ποτε σοι αχρηστον νυνι δε σοι και εμοι ευχρηστον ον ανεπεμψα
Once he was of little service to you, but now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well;
12 συ δε αυτον τουτ εστιν τα εμα σπλαγχνα προσλαβου
and I am sending him back to you with this letter – though it is like tearing out of my heart.
13 ον εγω εβουλομην προς εμαυτον κατεχειν ινα υπερ σου διακονη μοι εν τοις δεσμοις του ευαγγελιου
For my own sake I should like to keep him with me, so that, while I am in prison for the good news, he might attend to my wants on your behalf.
14 χωρις δε της σης γνωμης ουδεν ηθελησα ποιησαι ινα μη ως κατα αναγκην το αγαθον σου η αλλα κατα εκουσιον
But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, because I want your generosity to be voluntary and not, as it were, compulsory.
It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this reason, so that you might have him back for ever, (aiōnios g166)
16 ουκετι ως δουλον αλλ υπερ δουλον αδελφον αγαπητον μαλιστα εμοι ποσω δε μαλλον σοι και εν σαρκι και εν κυριω
no longer as a slave, but as something better – a dearly loved friend and follower of the Lord, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as a person, but as your fellow Christian!
17 ει ουν με εχεις κοινωνον προσλαβου αυτον ως εμε
If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me.
18 ει δε τι ηδικησεν σε η οφειλει τουτο εμοι ελλογει
If he has caused you any loss, or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19 εγω παυλος εγραψα τη εμη χειρι εγω αποτισω ινα μη λεγω σοι οτι και σεαυτον μοι προσοφειλεις
I, Paul, put my own hand to it – I will repay you myself. I say nothing about your owing me your self.
20 ναι αδελφε εγω σου οναιμην εν κυριω αναπαυσον μου τα σπλαγχνα εν κυριω
Yes, friend, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit.
21 πεποιθως τη υπακοη σου εγραψα σοι ειδως οτι και υπερ ο λεγω ποιησεις
Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking.
22 αμα δε και ετοιμαζε μοι ξενιαν ελπιζω γαρ οτι δια των προσευχων υμων χαρισθησομαι υμιν
Please also get a lodging ready for me, for I hope that I will be given back to you all in answer to your prayers.
23 ασπαζονται σε επαφρας ο συναιχμαλωτος μου εν χριστω ιησου
Epaphras, who is my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, sends you his greeting;
24 μαρκος αρισταρχος δημας λουκας οι συνεργοι μου
and Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, send theirs.
25 η χαρις του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου μετα του πνευματος υμων αμην
May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls.
