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Philemon
Disciples’ Literal New Testament

1 Paul[a], a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved one and fellow-worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thank God For Your Love, And Pray That Your Faith May Become Effective

4 I am giving-thanks to my God always while[b] making mention of you in my prayers, 5 hearing-of your love and the faith[c] which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 so that the fellowship[d] of [e] your faith may become effective[f] in[g] the knowledge of every good thing in us for Christ. 7 For I had much joy and encouragement in your love, because the deep-feelings of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

I Appeal To You For Onesimus, Your Slave And Our Beloved Brother

8 Therefore, [although] having much boldness in Christ to be commanding you to do the fitting thing, 9 for the sake of love I am rather appealing— being such a one as Paul, an old-man[h], and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I fathered in my imprisonment, Onesimus, 11 the one formerly useless[i] to you but now useful both to you and to me, 12 whom I sent-back to you (him! That is, my own deep-feelings[j]!), 13 whom I was wishing to hold-back with myself in order that on behalf of you he might be serving me in my imprisonment for the good-news. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good deed should not be as-if based-on[k] compulsion[l], but based-on willingness[m]. 15 For perhaps for this reason he was separated for an hour: in order that you might receive him in full forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but beyond a slave, a beloved brother— especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

Accept Him As Me, And Charge His Debts To My Account

17 Therefore if you hold me as a partner, accept him as me. 18 And if as to anything he wronged[n] you or owes you, charge this to my account— 19 I, Paul, wrote this with my own hand, I will repay— in order that I may not be saying to you that you indeed owe[o] yourself to me! 20 Yes, brother, may I profit[p] from you in the Lord. Refresh my deep-feelings in Christ.

I Have Confidence In Your Response, And Hope To See You Soon

21 I wrote to you having confidence in your obedience, knowing that you will do even beyond the things which I am saying. 22 And at the same time also, prepare lodging for me, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:1 On when this book was written, see Act 28:30.
  2. Philemon 1:4 Or, while always.
  3. Philemon 1:5 Or, faithfulness. Some regroup this as ‘your love for all the saints and the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus’.
  4. Philemon 1:6 Or, participation, contribution, communion, sharing; or, the material contribution, generosity.
  5. Philemon 1:6 Or, with, springing from, produced by.
  6. Philemon 1:6 Or, powerful, productive. Or, active, operative.
  7. Philemon 1:6 Or, by.
  8. Philemon 1:9 Or, an ambassador.
  9. Philemon 1:11 This is a play on words. The name Onesimus means ‘useful’.
  10. Philemon 1:12 Onesimus represents Paul’s own deep feelings (or, heart) sent back to Philemon to be ‘refreshed’ (v 20).
  11. Philemon 1:14 Or, by-way-of.
  12. Philemon 1:14 Or, force, necessity.
  13. Philemon 1:14 Or, voluntary-choice.
  14. Philemon 1:18 Or, harmed.
  15. Philemon 1:19 In other words, I will repay any debt of his so that the issue does not arise, because if you hold Onesimus responsible for any debt to you, I will be forced to speak to you about the even greater debt you owe to me.
  16. Philemon 1:20 Or, may I be favored by you; may I benefit from you.
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Philemon
New International Version

1 Paul, a prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus, and Timothy(B) our brother,(C)

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker(D)— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus(E) our fellow soldier(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:(G)

3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

4 I always thank my God(I) as I remember you in my prayers,(J) 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.(L) 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,(M) because you, brother, have refreshed(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner(P) of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son(Q) Onesimus,[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.(S) 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains(T) for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced(U) but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave,(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner,(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.(Y) 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh(AA) my heart in Christ. 21 Confident(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.(AD)

23 Epaphras,(AE) my fellow prisoner(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark,(AG) Aristarchus,(AH) Demas(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.(AJ)

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

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
  2. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.
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