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Paul Paulos, a prisoner desmios of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, and kai Timothy Timotheos our ho brother adelphos, to Philemon Philēmōn · ho our hēmeis dear friend agapētos and kai fellow worker synergos, · kai to Apphia Apphia our ho sister adelphē, · kai to Archippus Archippos · ho our hēmeis fellow soldier systratiōtēs, and kai to the ho church ekklēsia that meets in kata your sy house oikos: Grace charis to you hymeis and kai peace eirēnē from apo God theos our hēmeis Father patēr and kai the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos.

I always pantote thank eucharisteō · ho my egō God theos when I plegma remember mneia you sy in epi · ho my egō prayers proseuchē, because I hear akouō of your sy · ho love agapē for eis all pas the ho saints hagios and kai your ho faith pistis in pros the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous. · kai And I pray that hopōs the ho sharing koinōnia of ho your sy faith pistis may become ginomai effective energēs in en the knowledge epignōsis of every pas good agathos thing that belongs ho to en us hēmeis in eis Christ Christos. For gar I have derived echō much polys joy chara and kai encouragement paraklēsis from epi · ho your sy love agapē, my brother adelphos, because hoti the ho hearts splanchnon of the ho saints hagios have been refreshed anapauō by dia you sy.

So dio, although echō in en Christ Christos I have echō sufficient polys freedom parrēsia to order epitassō you sy to do what ho you ought anēkō, yet for dia · ho love’ s agapē sake I prefer mallon to appeal parakaleō to you— I toioutos, Paul Paulos, an old man presbytēs and de even kai now nyni a prisoner desmios for the sake of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous 10 I appeal parakaleō to you sy for peri · ho my emos child teknon, Onesimus Onēsimos, whose hos father I became gennaō while en in ho prison desmos. 11 · ho Formerly pote he was of no use achrēstos to you sy, but de now nyni he has become useful euchrēstos both kai to you sy and kai to me egō. 12 I am sending anapempō him hos back to you sy, that houtos is eimi, the one who autos is · ho my own emos heart splanchnon. 13 I egō wanted boulomai to keep katechō him hos with pros me emautou, so that hina he could minister diakoneō to me egō on hyper your sy behalf during en my ho imprisonment desmos for the ho gospel euangelion, 14 but de I did thelō not oudeis want thelō to do poieō anything oudeis without chōris · ho your sos consent gnōmē, so that hina your sy helpfulness agathos might eimi not be eimi by kata compulsion anankē · ho but alla by kata your own free will hekousios. 15 Perhaps tacha he was separated from chōrizō you for pros a while hōra for dia this houtos reason , that hina you might have apechō him autos back apechō forever aiōnios, 16 no longer ouketi as hōs a slave, but alla more than hyper a slave, as a dear agapētos brother adelphos. He is especially malista so to me egō, but de how much posos more mallon to you sy, both kai in en the flesh sarx and kai in en the Lord kyrios.

17 So then oun if ei you regard echō me egō as a partner koinōnos, welcome proslambanō him autos as hōs you would me egō. 18 If ei · de he has wronged adikeō you sy or ē owes opheilō you anything tis, charge that houtos to my egō account ellogeō 19 I egō, Paul Paulos, am writing graphō this with ho my own emos hand cheir I egō will pay it back apotinō. I could hina mē also kai mention legō that hoti you owe prosopheilō me egō your very self seautou! 20 Yes nai, brother adelphos, I egō do wish that I may have some benefit oninēmi from you sy in en the Lord kyrios. Refresh anapauō my egō · ho heart splanchnon in en Christ Christos.

21 Confident peithō of ho your sy obedience hypakoē, I write graphō to you sy, knowing oida that hoti you will do poieō even kai more hyper than I say legō. 22 At the same time hama, · de · kai prepare hetoimazō a guest room xenia for me egō, for gar I am hoping elpizō that hoti through dia · ho your hymeis prayers proseuchē I will be graciously given charizomai to you hymeis.

23 Epaphras Epaphras, · ho my egō fellow prisoner synaichmalōtos in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, sends aspazomai you sy greetings aspazomai, 24 as do Mark Markos, Aristarchus Aristarchos, Demas Dēmas, and Luke Loukas, · ho my egō fellow workers synergos. 25 The ho grace charis of the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos be with meta · ho your hymeis spirit pneuma.

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

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

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

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I always thank my God(I) as I remember you in my prayers,(J) because I hear about your love for all his holy people(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.(L) 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. 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

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 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.