1:1 | From Paul,* a prisoner of Christ Jesus,* and Timothy our* brother, to Philemon, our dear friend* and colaborer, |
1:2 | to Apphia* our sister,* to Archippus our* fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. |
1:3 | Grace and peace to you* from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! |
1:4 | I always thank my God* as I remember you in my prayers,* |
1:5 | because I hear* of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love* for all the saints.* |
1:6 | I pray* that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing* that belongs to you* in Christ.* |
1:7 | I* have had great joy and encouragement because* of your love, for the hearts* of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. |
1:8 | So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, |
1:9 | I would rather appeal* to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man* and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus* – |
1:10 | I am appealing* to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become* during my imprisonment,* that is, Onesimus, |
1:11 | who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you* and me. |
1:12 | I have sent* him (who is my very heart)* back to you. |
1:13 | I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place* during* my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.* |
1:14 | However,* without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. |
1:15 | For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,* |
1:16 | no longer as a slave,* but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking* and in the Lord. |
1:17 | Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. |
1:18 | Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes* to me. |
1:19 | I, Paul, have written* this letter* with my own hand:* I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe* me your very self. |
1:20 | Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.* |
1:21 | Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than* what I am asking you to do. |
1:22 | At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you. |
1:23 | Epaphras,* my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. |
1:24 | Mark, Aristarchus,* Demas* and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. |
1:25 | May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be* with your spirit.* |