Philemon 1
1
1Greetings from Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, our brother.
To Philemon, our dear friend and worker with us. 2Also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, who serves with us in the Lord’s army, and to the church that meets in your home.
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4I remember you in my prayers. And I always thank my God for you. 5I thank God because I hear about the love you have for all of God’s holy people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that the faith you share will make you understand every blessing we have in Christ. 7My brother, you have shown love to God’s people, and your help has greatly encouraged them. What a great joy and encouragement that has been to me.
Accept Onesimus as a Brother
8There is something that you should do. And because of the authority I have in Christ, I feel free to command you to do it. 9But I am not commanding you; I am asking you to do it out of love. I, Paul, am an old man now, and I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison. 11In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful#1:11 useless … useful Paul here makes a play on words with the name Onesimus, which means “useful.” for both you and me.
12I am sending him back to you, but it’s as hard as losing part of myself. 13I would like to keep him here to help me while I am still in prison for telling the Good News. By helping me here, he would be representing you. 14But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then whatever you do for me will be what you want to do, not what I forced you to do.
15Onesimus was separated from you for a short time. Maybe that happened so that you could have him back forever, 16not to be just a slave, but better than a slave, to be a dear brother. That’s what he is to me. And I know he will mean even more to you, both as your slave and as one who shares your faith in the Lord.
17If you accept me as your friend, then accept Onesimus back. Welcome him like you would welcome me. 18If he has done any wrong to you or owes you anything, charge that to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this in my own handwriting: I will pay back anything Onesimus owes. And I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life. 20So, my brother, as a follower of the Lord please do this favor#1:20 please do this favor Paul here makes another wordplay on the name Onesimus, using a verb related to it. for me. It would be such a great encouragement to me as your brother in Christ. 21I write this letter knowing that you will do what I ask, and even more than I ask.
22Also, please prepare a room for me. I hope that God will answer your prayers and that I will be able to come and see you.
Final Greetings
23Epaphras is a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus. He sends you his greetings. 24Also Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send their greetings. They are workers together with me.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Philemon 1
1
Greeting
1Paul, # Ac 13:9 a prisoner # 2Tm 1:8; Heb 13:3 of Christ Jesus, # Rm 1:1 and Timothy # Ac 16:1; 1Tm 1:2 our brother:
To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2to Apphia our sister, # Other mss read our beloved to Archippus # Col 4:17 our fellow soldier, # Php 2:25 and to the church that meets in your home. # Ac 12:12; Rm 16:5
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5because I hear of your love # Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37; Gl 5:6,22; Eph 6:23; 1Th 1:3; 3:6; 5:8; 1Tm 1:14; 1Jn 4:20 and faith toward # Lit faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective # Gl 5:6 through knowing every good thing # Gn 1:31; 18:18; 3Jn 11 that is in us # Other mss read in you for the glory of Christ. 7For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed # Lk 12:19; 2Tm 1:16 through you, brother.
An Appeal for Onesimus
8For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man # Or an ambassador and now also as a prisoner # 2Tm 1:8; Heb 13:3 of Christ Jesus, 10appeal to you for my son, # 1Th 2:11 Onesimus. # In Gk, Onesimus means useful. # Col 4:9 I fathered # Referring to the fact that Paul led him to Christ; 1Co 4:15 # 1Co 4:15 him while I was in chains. 11Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. # Other mss read him back. Receive him as a part of myself. # Lit you — that is, my inward parts 13I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave — as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh # Php 3:3 and in the Lord. # Both physically and spiritually # 1Co 16:19; Rv 11:8
17So if you consider me a partner, accept # Rm 14:1 him as you would me. 18And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. # Rm 5:13 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: # 1Co 16:21 I will repay it — not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self. 20Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Final Greetings
23Epaphras, # Col 1:7; 4:12 my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, and so do 24Mark, # Ac 12:12,25; 15:37,39; Col 4:10; 2Tm 4:11; 1Pt 5:13 Aristarchus, # Ac 19:29 Demas, and Luke, # Col 4:14; 2Tm 4:10-11 my coworkers.
25The grace of the Lord # Other mss read our Lord # 2Th 3:18; Rv 11:8 Jesus Christ be with your spirit. # Ps 51:12
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