Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dearly-loved fellow labourer--

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

2 and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your 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 May grace be granted to you all, 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 give continual thanks to my God while making mention of you, my brother, in my prayers,

I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and which you manifest towards all God's people;

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 praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward 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 have found great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of God's people have been, and are, refreshed through you, my brother.

For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.

8 Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting,

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

9 it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for 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 entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.

I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me.

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

12 I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.

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

13 It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

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 Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.

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 it was for this reason he was parted from you for a time, that you might receive him back wholly and for ever yours; (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 slave, but as something better than a slave--a brother peculiarly dear to me, and even dearer to you, both as a servant and as a fellow Christian.

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 therefore you regard me as a comrade, receive him as if he were I myself.

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

18 And if he was ever dishonest or is in your debt, debit me with the amount.

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

19 I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.)

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 Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

21 I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will 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 provide accommodation for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be permitted to come to you.

Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

23 Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus;

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

24 and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of every one of you.

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