Philemon 1

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

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

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

4 I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

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

5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

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

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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

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