Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and co-workman,

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

2 and to the beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy house:

to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.

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

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

4 I thank my God, making recollection of thee always in my prayers,

I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,

5 hearing of thy love and faith, which thou have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the sanctified,

because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward all the saints.

6 so that the fellowship of thy faith may become potent (in the knowledge of every good thing in us) for Christ Jesus.

And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.

7 For we have much joy and encouragement in thy love, because the bowels of the sanctified have been refreshed by thee, brother.

For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.

8 Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,

And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,

9 because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!

10 I beseech thee for my child Onesimus, whom I begot in my bonds.

I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

11 A man formerly unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back.

Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.

12 And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.

I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!

13 Whom I wanted to keep back for myself, so that in thy behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the good news.

I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.

14 But I wanted to do nothing without thy mind, so that thy goodness might not be as from obligation, but from volition.

But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.

15 For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever, (aiōnios g166)

Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in flesh and in the Lord.

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.

17 If then thou have me a partner, accept him as myself.

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

18 But if he has wronged thee, or owes anything, charge this to me.

And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.

19 I Paul write with my hand, I will repay, so that I may not say to thee that thou owe me in return even thyself.

I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.

20 Yes, brother, let me have a favor of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

21 Being confident in thine obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou will do above what I say.

Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.

22 But simultaneously also prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that by your prayers I will be granted to you.

Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee,

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;

24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-workmen.

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

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Truly.

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