Philemon 1

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

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

2 and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly 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 thanks to my God, always making mention of you in my prayers,

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

5 hearing of your love and faith that you have to the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones,

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 fellowship of your faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward 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 comfort in your love, because the yearnings of the holy ones have been refreshed 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 For this reason, having in Christ much boldness to command you that which is fit—

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

9 because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, 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 concerning my child—whom I begot in my bonds—Onesimus,

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

11 who once was to you unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to you,

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

12 whom I sent again to you—he who is my own heart,

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

13 whom I intended to retain to myself, that in your behalf he might minister to 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 apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness,

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, that you may have him continuously, (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 above a servant—a beloved brother, especially to me, and 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 If, then, you have fellowship with me, receive him as me,

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

18 and if he did hurt to you, 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, wrote with my hand, I will repay; besides, that I may not say that you also owe to me yourself.

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, may I have profit of you in the LORD; refresh my yearnings in the LORD;

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

21 I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may 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 at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through 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 greets you (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus),

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

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-workmen!

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

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.

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