Philemon 1
1 [I], Paul, am a prisoner [who serves] Christ Jesus. [I am here] with Timothy, our fellow believer. [I am writing this letter] to [you], Philemon, our dear [friend] and fellow worker.
Paulus, der Gebundene Christi Jesu, und Timotheus, der Bruder: Philemon, dem Lieben und unserm Gehilfen,
2 [I am also writing] to [your wife], Apphia, and to Archippus, [who is like] [MET] our fellow soldier [because he serves Christ steadfastly together with us]. I am also [writing this] to the congregation [that meets/gathers] in your [(sg)] house.
und Appia, der Lieben, und Archippus, unserm Streitgenossen, und der Gemeinde in deinem Hause.
3 [I pray that] God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to] act kindly toward you all and [will continue to] cause you to have [inner] peace.
Gnade sei mit euch und Friede von Gott, unserm Vater, und dem HERRN Jesu Christo!
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you [(sg)], because I hear [people say that] you love all God’s people [CHI]
Ich danke meinem Gott und gedenke dein allezeit in meinem Gebet,
5 and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.
nachdem ich höre von der Liebe und dem Glauben, welchen du hast an den HERRN Jesum und gegen alle Heiligen,
6 I pray that as a result of your knowing all the good things [that God/Christ has done for] us, you may (be effective/influence many others) as you tell others what you believe, in order that [they may honor] Christ.
daß dein Glaube, den wir miteinander haben, in dir kräftig werde durch Erkenntnis alles des Guten, das ihr habt in Christo Jesu.
7 I have rejoiced greatly and have been greatly encouraged because you, my dear friend, have acted lovingly toward God’s people by encouraging them [SYN].
Wir haben aber große Freude und Trost an deiner Liebe; denn die Herzen der Heiligen sind erquicket durch dich, lieber Bruder.
8 So [I have a request/favor to ask of you]. I am completely confident [that I have authority] to command you [to do] what you ought to do, because [I am an apostle of] Christ.
Darum, wiewohl ich habe große Freudigkeit in Christo, dir zu gebieten, was dir ziemet,
9 But because [I know that you] love [God’s people], I request this instead of [commanding you to do it]. It is I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner [because I serve] Christ Jesus, [who am requesting it].
so will ich doch um der Liebe willen nur vermahnen, der ich ein solcher bin, nämlich ein alter Paulus, nun aber auch ein Gebundener Jesu Christi.
10 I request that you [do something] for someone [who has become like] my own son [because I told him about Christ] [MET] while [I have been] a prisoner [MTY] [here. His name is] Onesimus.
So ermahne ich dich um meines Sohnes willen, Onesimus, den ich gezeuget habe in meinen Banden,
11 Although [his name, as you know, means ‘useful’], formerly he was useless to you. But now he is useful both to you and to me!
welcher weiland dir unnütze, nun aber dir und mir wohl nütze ist: den habe ich wiedergesandt.
12 Although (he is [as dear to me as/I love him as much as I love]) [MET] my own self [MTY], I am sending him back to you.
Du aber wollest ihn, das ist, mein eigen Herz, annehmen.
13 I would like to have kept him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf, while I am a prisoner [MTY] [because of my preaching] the message [about Christ].
Denn ich wollte ihn bei mir behalten, daß er mir an deiner Statt dienete in den Banden des Evangeliums;
14 Nevertheless, because [I had not yet asked you and] you had not yet permitted me [to keep him here with me], I decided not to [keep him here. I decided that I should] not do anything without your permitting it. [I decided that you should help me only if you] really want to help me.
aber ohne deinen Willen wollte ich nichts tun, auf daß dein Gutes nicht wäre genötiget, sondern freiwillig.
15 Perhaps the reason that [God permitted] Onesimus to be separated from {to leave} you for a little while was that [he would believe in Christ, and as a result] you would have him (back/with you) forever! (aiōnios g166)
Vielleicht aber ist er darum eine Zeitlang von dir kommen, daß du ihn ewig wieder hättest, (aiōnios g166)
16 [You will no longer have him only] as a slave. Instead, [you will have him] as [someone who is] more than a slave. [You will have him] as a fellow believer! He is especially dear to me, but he certainly will be more dear to you [than he is to me] (OR, I love him very much, but you will certainly love him more than I do), [because now he] not only belongs to you but he also belongs to the Lord.
nun nicht mehr als einen Knecht, sondern mehr denn einen Knecht, einen lieben Bruder, sonderlich mir; wie viel mehr aber dir, beide, nach dem Fleisch und in dem HERRN.
17 So, if you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive me.
So du nun mich hältst für deinen Gesellen, so wollest du ihn als mich selbst annehmen.
18 If he has wronged you in any manner or if he owes you anything, (charge that to me/tell me so that I can pay you).
So er aber dir etwas Schaden getan hat oder schuldig ist, das rechne mir zu.
19 I, Paul, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you what he owes you, although I might mention to you that you owe me even more than Onesimus may owe you, because it was the result of my telling you about Christ that God saved you.
Ich, Paulus, hab' es geschrieben mit meiner Hand; ich will's bezahlen. Ich schweige, daß du dich selbst mir schuldig bist.
20 (Yes/I say it again), my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] [by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe] in Christ.
Ja, lieber Bruder, gönne mir, daß ich mich an dir ergötze in dem HERRN; erquicke mein Herz in dem HERRN!
21 I have written [this letter] to you, confident that you will do what I am requesting you to [do]. [In fact], I know that you will do even more than what I am requesting [you to do].
Ich hab' aus Zuversicht deines Gehorsams dir geschrieben; denn ich weiß, du wirst mehr tun, denn ich sage.
22 Also, keep a guest room ready for me [to stay in], because I confidently expect that as a result of your prayers [for me, I] will be released [from prison and will come] to you all.
Daneben bereite mir die Herberge; denn ich hoffe, daß ich durch euer Gebet euch geschenket werde.
23 Epaphras, who is [suffering] with me in prison because of [his serving] Christ Jesus, (sends his greetings to you/wants you to know that he is thinking fondly about you).
Es grüßet dich Epaphras, mein Mitgefangener in Christo Jesu,
24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who are my [other] fellow workers, also (send their greetings to you/want you to know that they are thinking fondly about you).
Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, meine Gehilfen.
25 [I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).
Die Gnade unsers HERRN Jesu Christi sei mit eurem Geist! Amen.
