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
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.