Philemon 1

Greetings from Paul

1This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.

I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your#1:2 Throughout this letter, you and your are singular except in verses 3, 22, and 25. house.

3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

4I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.#1:9 Or a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

10I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11Onesimus#1:11 Onesimus means “useful.” hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

13I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!

20Yes, my brother, please do me this favor#1:20 Greek onaimen, a play on the name Onesimus. for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

21I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.

Paul’s Final Greetings

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.

25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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Philemon 1

Greeting

1Paul, a #Eph. 3:1prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2to the beloved Apphia, #Col. 4:17Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4#Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5#Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; 1 Thess. 3:6hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6that the sharing of your faith may become effective #Phil. 1:9; (Col. 1:9; 3:10; James 2:14–17)by the acknowledgment of #(1 Thess. 5:18)every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

8Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10I appeal to you for my son #Col. 4:9Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, #2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the #Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22flesh and in the Lord.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19I, Paul, am writing with my own #1 Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; 2 Thess. 3:17hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21#2 Cor. 7:16Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for #Phil. 1:25; 2:24I trust that #2 Cor. 1:11through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Farewell

23#Col. 1:7; 4:12Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24as do #Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37–39; Col. 4:10Mark, #Acts 19:29; 27:2; Col. 4:10Aristarchus, #Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10Demas, #2 Tim. 4:11Luke, my fellow laborers.

25#2 Tim. 4:22The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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