Προς Φιλημονα 1
1 παυλος δεσμιος χριστου ιησου και τιμοθεος ο αδελφος φιλημονι τω αγαπητω και συνεργω ημων
To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,
2 και απφια τη αδελφη και αρχιππω τω συστρατιωτη ημων και τη κατ οικον σου εκκλησια
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 χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος ημων και κυριου ιησου χριστου
Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 ευχαριστω τω θεω μου παντοτε μνειαν σου ποιουμενος επι των προσευχων μου
I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,
5 ακουων σου την αγαπην και την πιστιν ην εχεις {VAR1: εις } {VAR2: προς } τον κυριον ιησουν και εις παντας τους αγιους
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 οπως η κοινωνια της πιστεως σου ενεργης γενηται εν επιγνωσει παντος αγαθου {VAR1: [του] } {VAR2: του } εν ημιν εις χριστον
And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.
7 χαραν γαρ πολλην εσχον και παρακλησιν επι τη αγαπη σου οτι τα σπλαγχνα των αγιων αναπεπαυται δια σου αδελφε
For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.
8 διο πολλην εν χριστω παρρησιαν εχων επιτασσειν σοι το ανηκον
And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
9 δια την αγαπην μαλλον παρακαλω τοιουτος ων ως παυλος πρεσβυτης νυνι δε και δεσμιος χριστου ιησου
yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!
10 παρακαλω σε περι του εμου τεκνου ον εγεννησα εν τοις δεσμοις ονησιμον
I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
11 τον ποτε σοι αχρηστον νυνι δε {VAR2: [και] } σοι και εμοι ευχρηστον
Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
12 ον ανεπεμψα σοι αυτον τουτ εστιν τα εμα σπλαγχνα
I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
13 ον εγω εβουλομην προς εμαυτον κατεχειν ινα υπερ σου μοι διακονη εν τοις δεσμοις του ευαγγελιου
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 χωρις δε της σης γνωμης ουδεν ηθελησα ποιησαι ινα μη ως κατα αναγκην το αγαθον σου η αλλα κατα εκουσιον
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.
Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever, (aiōnios g166)
16 ουκετι ως δουλον αλλ υπερ δουλον αδελφον αγαπητον μαλιστα εμοι ποσω δε μαλλον σοι και εν σαρκι και εν κυριω
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 ει ουν με εχεις κοινωνον προσλαβου αυτον ως εμε
If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
18 ει δε τι ηδικησεν σε η οφειλει τουτο εμοι ελλογα
And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
19 εγω παυλος εγραψα τη εμη χειρι εγω αποτισω ινα μη λεγω σοι οτι και σεαυτον μοι προσοφειλεις
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 ναι αδελφε εγω σου οναιμην εν κυριω αναπαυσον μου τα σπλαγχνα εν χριστω
Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!
21 πεποιθως τη υπακοη σου εγραψα σοι ειδως οτι και υπερ α λεγω ποιησεις
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 αμα δε και ετοιμαζε μοι ξενιαν ελπιζω γαρ οτι δια των προσευχων υμων χαρισθησομαι υμιν
Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
23 ασπαζεται σε επαφρας ο συναιχμαλωτος μου εν χριστω ιησου
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
24 μαρκος αρισταρχος δημας λουκας οι συνεργοι μου
so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 η χαρις του κυριου ιησου χριστου μετα του πνευματος υμων
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
