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

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

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

to the beloved Apphia, 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 you in my prayers,

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

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

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

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

that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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

For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. The Plea for Onesimus

8 T herefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,

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

yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you —being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—

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

I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,

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

who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

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

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

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

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

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

But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

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

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

16 n o 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.

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. Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17 I f then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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

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

But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

19 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).

I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

20 Y es, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

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, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

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

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

But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Farewell

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, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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

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

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