Philemon 1:1-25
1 Paul, a prisoner+ for the sake of Christ Jesus,* and Timothy,+ [our] brother, to Phi·leʹmon,* our beloved one and fellow worker,+
2 and to Apʹphi·a, our sister, and to Ar·chipʹpus,+ our fellow soldier,+ and to the congregation that is in your house:+
3 May YOU people have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.+
4 I always thank my God when I make mention of you in my prayers,+
5 as I keep hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones;+
6 in order that the sharing of your faith+ may go into action* by your acknowledging* of every good thing among us as related to Christ.
7 For I got much joy and comfort over your love,+ because the tender affections* of the holy ones have been refreshed+ through you, brother.
8 For this very reason, though I have great freeness of speech* in connection with Christ to order+ you to do what is proper,
9 I am exhorting* you rather on the basis of love,+ seeing that I am such as I am, Paul an aged man,* yes, now also a prisoner+ for the sake of Christ Jesus;
10 I am exhorting you concerning my child,+ to whom I became a father+ while in my [prison] bonds, O·nesʹi·mus,*+
11 formerly useless to you but now useful to you and to me.+
12 This very one I am sending back to you, yes, him, that is, my own tender affections.*+
13 I would like to hold him back for myself that in place of you+ he might keep on ministering* to me in the [prison] bonds+ I bear for the sake of the good news.*
14 But without your consent I do not want to do anything, so that your good act may be, not as under compulsion,* but of your own free will.*+
15 Perhaps really on this account he broke away for an hour, that you may have him back forever,
16 no longer as a slave+ but as more than a slave,+ as a brother beloved,+ especially so to me, yet how much more so to you both in fleshly relationship and in [the] Lord.
17 If, therefore, you consider me a sharer,+ receive+ him kindly the way you would me.
18 Moreover, if he did you any wrong or owes you anything, keep this charged to my account.*
19 I Paul am writing with my own hand:+ I will pay it back—not to be telling you that, besides, you owe me even yourself.
20 Yes, brother, may I derive profit from you in connection with [the] Lord: refresh my tender affections+ in connection with Christ.
21 Trusting in your compliance,* I am writing you, knowing you will even do more than the things I say.+
22 But along with that, also get lodging+ ready for me, for I am hoping that through the prayers+ of YOU people I shall be set at liberty+ for YOU.
23 Sending you greetings is Epʹa·phras+ my fellow captive in union with Christ,
24 [also] Mark, Ar·is·tarʹchus,+ Deʹmas,+ Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with the spirit YOU people [show].*+
Footnotes
^ “To Philemon.” Gr., Phi·leʹmo·ni, meaning “Loving.”
^ Or, “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”
^ “May go into action.” Lit., “might become operative within.”
^ “By your acknowledging.” Lit., “in accurate knowledge.”
^ “The tender affections.” Lit., “the bowels.”
^ Lit., “outspokenness.”
^ Lit., “I am encouraging.”
^ Or, “an ambassador.”
^ “Onesimus,” meaning “Profitable.”
^ Lit., “he may serve.”
^ Or, “in the bonds of the good news.”
^ Lit., “necessity.”
^ Lit., “but according to what is voluntary.”
^ Lit., “to me be you setting to account.”
^ Lit., “obedience.”
^ Lit., “with your spirit.”
