1 T his letter is from Paul. I am in prison because of Jesus Christ. Brother Timothy is also writing to you, Philemon. You are a much-loved workman together with us.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), and our brother Timothy, to Philemon our dearly beloved sharer with us in our work,

2 W e are also writing to the church that meets in your home. This letter is also for our Christian sister Apphia and it is for Archippus who is a soldier together with us.

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

3 M ay God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you His loving-favor and peace.

Grace (spiritual blessing and favor) be to all of you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

4 I always thank God when I speak of you in my prayers.

I give thanks to my God for you always when I mention you in my prayers,

5 I t is because I hear of your love and trust in the Lord Jesus and in all the Christians.

Because I continue to hear of your love and of your loyal faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

6 I pray that our faith together will help you know all the good things you have through Christ Jesus.

that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good that is ours in Christ Jesus.

7 Y our love has given me much joy and comfort. The hearts of the Christians have been made happy by you, Christian brother.

For I have derived great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been cheered and refreshed through you, brother.

8 S o now, through Christ, I am free to tell you what you must do.

Therefore, though I have abundant boldness in Christ to charge you to do what is fitting and required and your duty to do,

9 B ut because I love you, I will only ask you. I am Paul, an old man, here in prison because of Jesus Christ.

Yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you just for what I am—I, Paul, an ambassador and an old man and now a prisoner for His sake also—

10 I am asking you for my son, Onesimus. He has become my son in the Christian life while I have been here in prison.

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whom I have begotten while a captive in these chains.

11 A t one time he was of no use to you. But now he is of use to you and to me.

Once he was unprofitable to you, but now he is indeed profitable to you as well as to me.

12 I am sending him back to you. It is like sending you my own heart.

I am sending him back to you in his own person, my very heart.

13 I would like to keep him with me. He could have helped me in your place while I am in prison for preaching the Good News.

I would have chosen to keep him with me, in order that he might minister to my needs in your stead during my imprisonment for the Gospel’s sake.

14 B ut I did not want to keep him without word from you. I did not want you to be kind to me because you had to but because you wanted to.

But it has been my wish to do nothing about it without first consulting you and getting your consent, in order that your benevolence might not seem to be the result of compulsion or of pressure but might be voluntary.

15 H e ran away from you for awhile. But now he is yours forever.

Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated for a while, that you might have him back as yours forever,

16 D o not think of him any longer as a servant you own. He is more than that to you. He is a much-loved Christian brother to you and to me.

Not as a slave any longer but as more than a slave, as a brother, especially dear to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 I f you think of me as a true friend, take him back as you would take me.

If then you consider me a partner and a comrade in fellowship, welcome and receive him as you would me.

18 I f he has done anything wrong or owes you anything, send me the bill.

And if he has done you any wrong in any way or owes anything, charge that to my account.

19 I will pay it. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will not talk about how much you owe me because you owe me your life.

I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I promise to repay it —and that is to say nothing that you owe me your very self!

20 Y es, Christian brother, I want you to be of use to me as a Christian. Give my heart new joy in Christ.

Yes, brother, let me have some profit from you in the Lord. Cheer and refresh my heart in Christ.

21 I write this letter knowing you will do what I ask and even more.

I write to you confident of your obedient compliance, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 P lease have a room ready for me. I trust God will answer your prayers and let me come to you soon.

At the same time prepare a guest room to me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.

23 E paphras says hello. He is a brother in Christ in prison with me.

Greetings to you from Epaphras, my fellow prisoner here in Christ Jesus (the Messiah),

24 M ark and Aristarchus and Demas and Luke who are workers with me say hello.

And Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 M ay the loving-favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The grace (blessing and favor) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).