< Philemon 1 >

1 From Paul, now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, a Brother.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved 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, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your 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 you 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 your love, and of the faith which you have 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 your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in 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, brother, by you.
For I have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt,
Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
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 on the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner 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 appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, 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 once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
12 and I am sending him back to you with this letter — though it is like tearing out of my very heart.
I am sending back to you, him who 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 desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
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 I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 It may be that he was separated from you for an hour, for this very reason, that you might have him back for ever, (aiōnios g166)
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, (aiōnios g166)
16 no longer as a slave, but as something better — a dearly loved Brother, especially dear to me, and how much more so to you, not only as your fellow man, but as your fellow Christian!
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If, then, you count me your friend, receive him as you would me.
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 If he has caused you any loss, or owes you anything, charge it to me.
But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19 I, Paul, put my own hand to it — I will repay you myself. I say nothing about your owing me your very self.
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
20 Yes, Brother, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit.
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you 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 your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 Please also get a lodging ready for me, for I hope that I shall be given back to you all in answer to your prayers.
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, who is my fellow-prisoner for Christ Jesus, sends you his greeting;
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 and Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-workers, send theirs.
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 May the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ rest on your souls.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

< Philemon 1 >