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, #ver. 9; See Eph. 3:1a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and #See 1 Thess. 3:2Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2and Apphia our sister and #Col. 4:17Archippus our #Phil. 2:25fellow soldier, and #See Rom. 16:5the church in your house:

3 # See Rom. 1:7 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 # See Rom. 1:8, 9 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5because I #Col. 1:4hear of your love and #Eph. 1:15of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full #Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.#6 Or for Christ’s service 7For I have derived much joy and #[2 Cor. 7:4, 13; Col. 4:11] comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints #ver. 20; 2 Tim. 1:16; [Rom. 15:32; 2 Cor. 7:13]have been refreshed through you.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8Accordingly, #[1 Thess. 2:6] though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do #Eph. 5:4what is required, 9yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now #ver. 1a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10I appeal to you for #See 3 John 4my child, #Col. 4:9Onesimus,#10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20) #ver. 13; 1 Cor. 4:15; [Gal. 4:19]whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me #See 1 Cor. 16:17on your behalf #ver. 10; See Phil. 1:7during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be #[2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2]by compulsion but of your own accord. 15For this perhaps is why #[Gen. 45:5, 8]he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16#See 1 Cor. 7:22no longer as a bondservant#16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse but more than a bondservant, as #Matt. 23:8; Col. 4:9; 1 Tim. 6:2a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, #Col. 3:22, 23; [Eph. 6:5]both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17So if you consider me #2 Cor. 8:23your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19#See 1 Cor. 16:21I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. #See ver. 7Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 # See 2 Cor. 2:3 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for #Phil. 1:25; 2:24I am hoping that #See 2 Cor. 1:11through your prayers #[Heb. 13:19]I will be graciously given to you.

Final Greetings

23 # See Col. 1:7 Epaphras, my #Rom. 16:7fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24and so do #See Col. 4:10Mark, #See Col. 4:10Aristarchus, #See Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10, 11Demas, and #See Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10, 11Luke, my fellow workers.

25 # See Gal. 6:18 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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