Philemon 1

1 From Paul, now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, a fellow follower of the Lord.

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

2 To our dear friend and fellow worker Philemon, to our sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus; and to the church that meets at Philemon’s house;

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

3 may God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.

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

4 I always mention you in my prayers and thank God for you,

I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,

5 because I hear of the love and the faith which you show, not only to the Lord Jesus, but also to all his people;

hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that your participation in the faith may result in action, as you come to a fuller realisation of everything that is good and Christlike in us.

that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

7 I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ’s people have been cheered, friend, by you.

For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

8 And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt,

Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

9 yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you – yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.

yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

10 I plead with you for this child of mine, Onesimus, to whom, in my prison, I have become a father.

I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

11 Once he was of little service to you, but now he has become of great service, not only to you, but to me as well;

who was aforetime unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

12 and I am sending him back to you with this letter – though it is like tearing out of my heart.

whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

13 For my own sake I should like to keep him with me, so that, while I am in prison for the good news, he might attend to my wants on your behalf.

whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, because I want your generosity to be voluntary and not, as it were, compulsory.

but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

15 It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this reason, so that you might have him back for ever, (aiōnios g166)

For perhaps he was therefore parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; (aiōnios g166)

16 no longer as a slave, but as something better – a dearly loved friend and follower of the Lord, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as a person, but as your fellow Christian!

no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me.

If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he has caused you any loss, or owes you anything, charge it to me.

But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account;

19 I, Paul, put my own hand to it – I will repay you myself. I say nothing about your owing me your self.

I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee how that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.

20 Yes, friend, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking.

Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.

22 Please also get a lodging ready for me, for I hope that I will be given back to you all in answer to your prayers.

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

23 Epaphras, who is my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, sends you his greeting;

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;

24 and Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers, send theirs.

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

25 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls.

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