Philemon 1
1
1From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy —
To our friend and fellow-worker Philemon, 2#Col 4.17and the church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow-soldier Archippus:
3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Philemon's Love and Faith
4Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God. 5For I hear of your love for all God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ. 7Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all God's people.
A Request for Onesimus
8For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. 9But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.#v.9 the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake; or an old man, and at present a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. 10#Col 4.9So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. 11At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful#v.11 The Greek name Onesimus means “useful”. both to you and to me.
12I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart. 13I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place. 14However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.
15It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. 16And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!
17So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19Here, I will write this with my own hand: I, Paul, will pay you back. (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.) 20So, my brother, please do me this favour for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!
21I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask — in fact I know that you will do even more. 22At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.
Final Greetings
23 #
Col 1.7; 4.12 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, 24#Acts 12.12, 25; 13.13; 15.37–39; 19.29; 27.2; Col 4.10, 14; 2 Tim 4.10, 11and so do my fellow-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Philemon 1
1
1Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman, 2and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which is in thine house. 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers, 5hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints, 6in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ Jesus. 7For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting, 9for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, 11once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me: 12whom I have sent back to thee: but do thou receive him, that is, my bowels: 13whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings; 14but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness: 15for perhaps for this reason he has been separated from thee for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever; 16not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? 17If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner with thee, receive him as me; 18but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything to thee, put this to my account. 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand; I will repay it: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me. 20Yea, brother, I would have profit of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ. 21Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say. 22But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers. 23Epaphras salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; 24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen. 25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.