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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Philemon 1: HCSB
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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!
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.