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

This 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.

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

We 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.

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

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

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

I always thank God when I speak of you 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;

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

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.

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

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

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

So now, through Christ, I am free to tell you what you must do.

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.

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

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

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

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

At one time he was of no use to you. But now he is of use to you and to me.

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

I am sending him back to you. It is like sending you 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.

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.

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 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.

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

He ran away from you for awhile. But now he is yours 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.

Do 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.

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

If you think of me as a true friend, take him back as you would take me.

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

If he has done anything wrong or owes you anything, send me the bill.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Epaphras says hello. He is a brother in Christ in prison with me.

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

Mark and Aristarchus and Demas and Luke who are workers with me say hello.

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

May the loving-favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.