Philemon 1
1 Greeting From Paul, who is a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy.To our dear coworker Philemon,
Paul and Timothy’s Greeting to Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus
2 our sister Apphia, our fellow soldier Archippus, and the church that meets in your house.
3 Good willt and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!Paul’s Prayer for Philemon
Paul’s Prayer for Philemon
4 Philemon, I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers because5 I hear about your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.6 As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we have in Christ.
7 Your love for God’s people gives me a lot of joy and encouragement. You, brother, have comforted God’s people.
Paul’s Advice About Onesimus
Paul’s Advice About Onesimus
8 Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing.9 However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus,10 appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in prison.
11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.
12 I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself.13 I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading the Good News.
14 Yet, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will without feeling forced to do it.
15 Maybe Onesimus was gone for a while so that you could have him back forever—
16 no longer as a slave but better than a slave—as a dear brother. He is especially dear to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a Christian.
17 If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.18 If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.19 I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life.20 So, because we’re brothers in the Lord, do something for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ.
21 I am confident as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 One more thing—have a guest room ready for me. I hope that, because of your prayers, God will give me back to you.Greetings From Paul’s Coworkers
Greetings From Paul’s Coworkers
23 Epaphras, who is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus like I am,
24 and my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send you greetings.
25 The good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours.
Philemon 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,5 hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.7 For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.8 Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,9 yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,11 who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:12 whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:13 whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14 but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.15 For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;16 no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.17 If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.18 But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account;19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.21 Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.