Phile | ABEn | STEP |

PHILEMON

Philemon

CHAPTER 1 Paul Addresses Philemon

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon the beloved, and our fellow-worker, 2 and to Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the [²at ³your house ¹assembly]. 3 Favor to you, and peace from God our father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God, at all times [²mention ³of you ¹making] at my prayers, 5 hearing [³of yours ¹the ²love], and the belief which you have towards the Lord Jesus, and to all the holy ones, 6 that the fellowship of the belief of yours [²active ¹should become] in full knowledge of every [²work ¹good], of the one in you in Christ Jesus. 7 [⁴gratitude ¹For ²we have ³much] and comfort over your love, because the feelings of compassion of the holy ones have been rested through you, O brother.

Paul's Appeal for Onesimus

8 Therefore, [²a great ⁴in ⁵Christ ³openness ¹having], to give orders to you, the thing related, 9 [³through ⁴the ⁵love ²rather ¹I appeal], being such a one as Paul an old man, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I appeal to you concerning my child, whom I engendered in my bonds, Onesimus, 11 the one at some time or other useless to you, but now [²to you ³and ⁴to me ¹useful], whom I sent back to you. 12 But you ([²for him ¹that is]) [²the things ³concerning my ⁴feelings of compassion ¹receive]! 13 whom I wanted [²for ³myself ¹to keep], that for you he should be serving to me in the bonds of the good news. 14 But without the help of your opinion [³nothing ¹I wanted ²to do]; that [⁴not ⁶as ⁷according to ⁸necessity ²good ¹your ³should ⁵be], but as voluntary. 15 For perhaps on account of this he was separated for an hour, that eternally you should receive him; 16 no longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, [²brother ¹a beloved], especially to me, and how much more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord. 17 If then you have me for a partner, receive him as me! 18 And if in anything he wronged you or owes, [²this ³to me ¹charge]!

Philemon's Debt

19 I, Paul, write in my hand. I will pay -- for I should not say to you that even yourself owes me besides. 20 Yes, O brother, [²I ⁴you ¹may ³oblige] in the Lord; rest my feelings of compassion in the Lord! 21 Relying upon your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that even above what I say you will do. 22 But at the same time also prepare for me a guest room! For I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. 23 They greet you -- Epaphras, my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus; 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.