Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 and to Apphia our sister, 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 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 always, 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 of the 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 you, unto Christ.
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 had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through 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 all boldness in Christ to enjoin 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 rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also 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 have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,
I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
11 who was aforetime unprofitable to thee, but now is 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 to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto 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 without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.
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 therefore parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him 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 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.
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 thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account;
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
19 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.
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 thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond 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 withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto 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, saluteth thee;
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 [and so do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 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.
