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

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

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

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

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

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

6 a nd 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.

that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

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

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

8 T herefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

9 y et 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

yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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

I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

11 w ho formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

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

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

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

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

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

14 b ut 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.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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

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

16 n o 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.

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

17 I f then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

19 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).

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

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

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

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

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 E paphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

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

24 a s do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

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

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.