Philemon 1
Greeting
1 From Paul, who is a prisoner for the cause of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy.
To Philemon our dearly loved coworker,
2 Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church that meets in your house.
3 May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Paul’s prayer for Philemon
4 Philemon, I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers5 because I’ve heard of your love and faithfulness, which you have both for the Lord Jesus and for all God’s people.6 I pray that your partnership in the faith might become effective by an understanding of all that is good among us in Christ.
7 I have great joy and encouragement because of your love, since the hearts of God’s people are refreshed by your actions, my brother.
Paul’s appeal for Onesimus
8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to command you to do the right thing,9 I would rather appeal to you through love. I, Paul—an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus—10 appeal to you for my child Onesimus. I became his father in the faith during my time in prison.11 He was useless to you before, but now he is useful to both of us.12 I’m sending him back to you, which is like sending you my own heart.13 I considered keeping him with me so that he might serve me in your place during my time in prison because of the gospel.14 However, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent so that your act of kindness would occur willingly and not under pressure.15 Maybe this is the reason that Onesimus was separated from you for a while so that you might have him back forever—
16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—that is, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially a dearly loved brother to me. How much more can he become a brother to you, personally and spiritually in the Lord!
17 So, if you really consider me a partner, welcome Onesimus as if you were welcoming me.18 If he has harmed you in any way or owes you money, charge it to my account.
19 I, Paul, will pay it back to you (I’m writing this with my own hand). Of course, I won’t mention that you owe me your life.
20 Yes, brother, I want this favor from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.21 I’m writing to you, confident of your obedience and knowing that you will do more than what I ask.
22 Also, one more thing—prepare a guest room for me. I hope that I will be released from prison to be with you because of your prayers.
Final greeting
23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the cause of Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 as well as my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon 1
Salutation
1 From Paul,t a prisoner of Christ Jesus,s and Timothy ourt brother, to Philemon, our dear friendt and colaborer,2 to Apphias our sister,s to Archippus ourt fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.
3 Grace and peace to yout from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I always thank my Gods as I remember you in my prayers,t5 because I heart of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your loves for all the saints.t6 I prayt that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessingt that belongs to yous in Christ.t
7 It have had great joy and encouragement becauset of your love, for the heartst of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Paul’s Request for Onesimus
8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,9 I would rather appealt to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old mant and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesust –10 I am appealingt to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have becomet during my imprisonment,s that is, Onesimus,11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to yous and me.12 I have sentst him (who is my very heart)t back to you.13 I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your placet duringt my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.t14 However,t without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,s16 no longer as a slave,t but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speakingt and in the Lord.17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owest to me.19 I, Paul, have writtent this lettert with my own hand:s I will repay it. I could also mention that you owes me your very self.20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.s21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more thant what I am asking you to do.
22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
Concluding Greetings
23 Epaphras,s my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.24 Mark, Aristarchus,s Demass and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ bet with your spirit.s