Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow-laborer,

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

2 and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in 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 be 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 at all times, making mention of thee 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 hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward 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 fellowship of thy faith may become effectual in the knowledge of every good thing which is 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 great thankfulness and comfort on account of thy love, because the hearts of the saints 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 Wherefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to enjoin upon thee that which is befitting,

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

9 yet for love's sake I beseech thee rather; being such a one as Paul an old man, and now also 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 I beseech thee for 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 in time past was unprofitable to thee, but is now profitable to thee and to me;

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

12 whom I have sent back; and do thou [[receive]] him, that is, my own flesh.

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

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might minister to me in the bonds 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 chose to do nothing without thy consent, that thy benefit may be not as from necessity, but 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 For perhaps he was separated from thee for a season to this end, that thou shouldst receive him back as thine 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 bond-servant, but above a bond-servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee, 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 thou then regardest me as a partner, receive him as myself.

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

18 And if he wronged thee in anything, or oweth thee, put that to my account.

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

19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it; not to say to thee, that to me thou owest even thy own self besides.

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 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee 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 Having confidence in thy obedience I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt 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 at the same time make ready a lodging for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall 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,

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

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

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

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

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