Philemon 1
1
1From Paul, who is in jail for serving Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is like a brother because of our faith.
Philemon, you work with us and are very dear to us. This letter is to you 2#Col 4.17. and to the church that meets in your home. It is also to our dear friend Apphia and to Archippus, who serves the Lord as we do.
3I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
Philemon's Love and Faith
4Philemon, each time I mention you in my prayers, I thank God. 5I hear about your faith in our Lord Jesus and about your love for all God's people. 6As you share your faith with others, I pray they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us. 7My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me. It has also cheered the hearts of God's people.
Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus
8Christ gives me the courage to tell you what to do. 9But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love. Yes, as someone#9 someone: Greek “a messenger” or “an old man.” in jail for Christ, 10#Col 4.9. I beg you to help Onesimus!#10 Onesimus: In Greek this name means “useful.” He is like a son to me because I led him to Christ here in jail. 11Before this, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12Sending Onesimus back to you makes me very sad. 13I would like to keep him here with me, where he could take your place in helping me while I am here in prison for preaching the good news. 14But I won't do anything unless you agree to it first. I want your act of kindness to come from your heart, and not be something you feel forced to do.
15Perhaps Onesimus was taken from you for a little while so you could have him back for good, 16but not as a slave. Onesimus is much more than a slave. To me he is a dear friend, but to you he is even more, both as a person and as a follower of the Lord.
17If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 18If he has cheated you or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19With my own hand I write: I, PAUL, WILL PAY YOU BACK. But don't forget you owe me your life. 20My dear friend and follower of Christ our Lord, please cheer me up by doing this for me.
21I am sure you will do all I have asked, and even more. 22Please get a room ready for me. I hope your prayers will be answered, and I can visit you.
23 #
Col 1.7; 4.12. Epaphras is also here in jail for being a follower of Christ Jesus. He sends his greetings, 24#Ac 12.12,25; 13.13; 15.37-39; Col 4.10; Ac 19.29; 27.2; Col 4.10; Col 4.14; 2 Ti 4.10; Col 4.14; 2 Ti 4.11. and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who work together with me.
25I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you!
Currently Selected:
Philemon 1: CEV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.