Philemon 1

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

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;

2 and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which [is] in thine house.

And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:

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

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

4 I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers,

I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.

5 hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints,

Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:

6 in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ [Jesus].

That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:

9 for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

10 I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in [my] bonds, Onesimus,

I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

11 once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:

Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

12 whom I have sent back to thee: [but do thou receive] him, that is, my bowels:

Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

13 whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:

14 but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:

But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

15 for perhaps for this reason he has been separated [from thee] for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever; (aiōnios g166)

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever: (aiōnios g166)

16 not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in [the] flesh and in [the] Lord?

Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?

17 If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner [with thee], receive him as me;

If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

18 but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything [to thee], put this to my account.

And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.

19 I Paul have written [it] with mine own hand; I will repay [it]: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me.

I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.

20 Yea, brother, I would have profit of thee in [the] Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers.

But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

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

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit.

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