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.