Philemon

Philemon 1

1 From: ^{a1 The Gk. lacks From} Paul, a prisoner of the Messiah ^{b1 Or Christ} Jesus, and Timothy our brother. To: Philemon our dear friend ^{c1 Or our beloved Philemon} and fellow worker,ISV — Philemon 1:1

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.ISV — Philemon 1:2

3 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, ^{d3 Or Christ} be yours! ^{e3 The Gk. yours is pl.}ISV — Philemon 1:3

4 I always thank my God when I mention you ^{f4 From verse 4 through v. 21, you and your are sing.} in my prayers,ISV — Philemon 1:4

5 because I keep hearing about your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.ISV — Philemon 1:5

6 I pray ^{g6 The Gk. lacks I pray} that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every blessing that is ours ^{h6 Other mss. read yours (pl.)} in the Messiah. ^{i6 Or Christ}ISV — Philemon 1:6

7 For I have received considerable joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed, brother, through you.ISV — Philemon 1:7

8 For this reason, although in the Messiah ^{j8 Or Christ} I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper,ISV — Philemon 1:8

9 I prefer to make my appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner of the Messiah ^{k9 Or Christ} Jesus,ISV — Philemon 1:9

10 appeal to you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.ISV — Philemon 1:10

11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful ^{l11 The Gk. name Onesimus means useful} both to you and to me.ISV — Philemon 1:11

12 As I send him back, it’s like I’m coming along with him. ^{m12 Lit. back, it’s with my innards}ISV — Philemon 1:12

13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel.ISV — Philemon 1:13

14 Yet I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be something forced, but voluntary.ISV — Philemon 1:14

15 Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you could have him back forever,ISV — Philemon 1:15

16 no longer as a slave but better than a slave—as a dear brother, especially to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a believer. ^{n16 Or both in the flesh and in the Lord}ISV — Philemon 1:16

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome ^{o17 The Gk. lacks you would welcome} me.ISV — Philemon 1:17

18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.ISV — Philemon 1:18

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. (I will not mention to you that you owe me your very life.)ISV — Philemon 1:19

20 Yes, brother, I desire this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah! ^{p20 Or Christ}ISV — Philemon 1:20

21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I know that you will do even more than I ask.ISV — Philemon 1:21

22 Meanwhile, prepare a guest room for me, too, for I am hoping through your prayers to be returned to you.ISV — Philemon 1:22

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in the Messiah ^{q23 Or Christ} Jesus, sends you ^{r23 The Gk. you is sing.} greetings,ISV — Philemon 1:23

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.ISV — Philemon 1:24

25 May the grace of our ^{s25 Other mss. read the} Lord Jesus, the Messiah, ^{t25 Or Christ} be with your spirit! Amen. ^{u25 Other mss. lack Amen.}ISV — Philemon 1:25