1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace 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 as I remember you in my prayers,
4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ.
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,
9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--
9 yet for loves sake I prefer to appeal to you -- I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus --
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.
11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
12 I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.
12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
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 for the gospel.
13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;
14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--
15 Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever,
16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it -- to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.