Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

2 And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your 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 give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,

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

5 Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;

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 That the faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ.

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 I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.

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

8 And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,

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

9 Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:

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

10 My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,

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

11 Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

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

12 Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

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

13 Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:

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 without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.

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 it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever; (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 servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as 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 you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.

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

18 If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

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

19 I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.

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 So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

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

21 Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than 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 And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given 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 brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;

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

24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers.

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

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

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