Philemon 1

1 Paulus, ein Gefangener Christi Jesu, und Timotheus, der Bruder, Philemon, dem Geliebten und unserem Mitarbeiter,

[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.

2 und Appia, der Schwester, und Archippus, unserem Mitkämpfer, und der Versammlung, die in deinem Hause ist:

[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.

3 Gnade euch und Friede von Gott, unserem Vater, und dem Herrn Jesus Christus!

[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.

4 Ich danke meinem Gott, indem ich allezeit deiner erwähne in meinen Gebeten,

I always thank my God when I pray for you [(sg)], because I hear [people say that] you love all God’s people [CHI]

5 da ich höre von deiner Liebe und von dem Glauben, den du an den Herrn Jesus und zu allen Heiligen hast,

and that you continue to trust in the Lord Jesus.

6 daß die Gemeinschaft deines Glaubens wirksam werde in der Anerkennung alles Guten, welches in uns ist gegen Christum [Jesum].

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.

7 Denn wir haben große Freude und großen Trost durch deine Liebe, weil die Herzen der Heiligen durch dich, Bruder, erquickt worden sind.

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].

8 Deshalb, obgleich ich große Freimütigkeit in Christo habe, dir zu gebieten, was sich geziemt,

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.

9 so bitte ich doch vielmehr um der Liebe willen, da ich nun ein solcher bin, wie Paulus, der Alte, jetzt aber auch ein Gefangener Jesu Christi.

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].

10 Ich bitte dich für mein Kind, das ich gezeugt habe in den Banden, Onesimus,

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.

11 der dir einst unnütz war, jetzt aber dir und mir nützlich ist,

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!

12 den ich zu dir zurückgesandt habe ihn, das ist mein Herz;

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.

13 welchen ich bei mir behalten wollte, auf daß er statt deiner mir diene in den Banden des Evangeliums.

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].

14 Aber ohne deinen Willen wollte ich nichts tun, auf daß deine Wohltat nicht wie gezwungen, sondern freiwillig sei.

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.

15 Denn vielleicht ist er deswegen für eine Zeit von dir getrennt gewesen, auf daß du ihn für immer besitzen mögest, (aiōnios g166)

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)

16 nicht länger als einen Sklaven, sondern mehr als einen Sklaven, als einen geliebten Bruder, besonders für mich, wieviel mehr aber für dich, sowohl im Fleische als im Herrn.

[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.

17 Wenn du mich nun für deinen Genossen hältst, so nimm ihn auf wie mich.

So, if you consider me to be your partner [in God’s work], receive him as you would receive me.

18 Wenn er dir aber irgend ein Unrecht getan hat, oder dir etwas schuldig ist, so rechne dies mir an.

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).

19 Ich, Paulus, habe es mit meiner Hand geschrieben, ich will bezahlen; daß ich dir nicht sage, daß du auch dich selbst mir schuldig bist.

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.

20 Ja, Bruder, ich möchte gern Nutzen an dir haben im Herrn; erquicke mein Herz in Christo.

(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.

21 Da ich deinem Gehorsam vertraue, so habe ich dir geschrieben, indem ich weiß, daß du auch mehr tun wirst, als ich sage.

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].

22 Zugleich aber bereite mir auch eine Herberge, denn ich hoffe, daß ich durch eure Gebete euch werde geschenkt werden.

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.

23 Es grüßt dich Epaphras, mein Mitgefangener in Christo Jesu,

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).

24 Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, meine Mitarbeiter.

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).

25 Die Gnade unseres Herrn Jesus Christus sei mit eurem Geiste!

[I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ [will] ([continue to] work kindly in all your lives/kindly keep accomplishing what he desires within you).