1 P aul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,

2 a nd to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 G race to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 h earing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 t hat the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

7 F or I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 W herefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

9 y et for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you —since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 w ho once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 w hom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 w hom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 b ut without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

15 F or perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;

For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

16 n o longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 I f then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

18 B ut if he hath wronged the at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account;

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it ( not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

20 Y ea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 H aving confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22 B ut withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

23 E paphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 a nd so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

25 T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.