Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is 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 and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,
I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,
5 (for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with 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 so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in 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 I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.
8 Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,
And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
9 but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man 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 beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.
I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
11 In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.
Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
12 So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.
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 was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.
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 So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity, (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, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the 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 Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.
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 it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.
Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!
21 I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than 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 also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.
Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
23 Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
