Paul And Timothy's Greeting To Philemon, Apphia, And Archippus
1 [This letter is from] Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, [and is being sent] to Philemon our dearly loved [brother] and fellow-worker,
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
1 (A)Paul, (B)a prisoner of (C)Christ Jesus, and (D)Timothy (a)our brother,To Philemon our beloved brother and (E)fellow worker,
1 Paul,(A) a prisoner(B) of Christ Jesus,(C) and Timothy(D) our brother:To Philemon our dear friend and coworker,
1 1From: Paul, a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus, and Timothy our brother. To: Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
2 and to Apphia our sister [Note: This was probably Philemon's wife], and to Archippus our fellow-soldier [Note: This was probably Philemon's preacher son. See Col. 4:17] and to the church [that meets] in your house.
2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
2 and to Apphia (b)(F)our sister, and to (G)Archippus our (H)fellow soldier, and to (I)the church in your house:
2 to Apphia our sister,(a) to Archippus(E) our fellow soldier,(F) and to the church that meets in your home.(G)
2 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
3 May there be unearned favor 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.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
Philemon's Love And Faith
5 hearing of your love for all saints [i.e., God's holy people], and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
5 because I (L)hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the (c)saints;
5 because I keep hearing about your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.
6 [I pray] that the sharing of your faith [with others, or possibly with Paul] will be effective when you fully realize all the good you can do for Christ.
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective (d)through the (M)knowledge of every good thing which is in you (e)for Christ’s sake.
6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective(I) through knowing every good thing(J) that is in us(c) for the glory of Christ.
6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every blessing that is ours in the Messiah.
7 For I have much joy and encouragement from [observing] your love, because you have cheered the hearts of the saints [i.e., God's holy people], brother.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
7 For I have come to have much (N)joy and comfort in your love, because the (f)hearts of the (g)saints have been (O)refreshed through you, brother.
7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed(K) through you, brother.
7 For I have received considerable joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed, brother, through you.
An Appeal For Onesimus
8 Therefore, although in [the fellowship of] Christ I have enough boldness to order you to do the proper thing,
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,
8 For this reason, although in the Messiah I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper,
9 yet out of [mutual] love, I appeal to you [to do what I ask]. For I Paul, am an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. [Note: Most calculations suggest that Paul was approximately 60 years old, which was considered a relatively advanced age in that day].
9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
9 yet for love’s sake I rather (R)appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, (i)the (S)aged, and now also (T)a prisoner of (U)Christ Jesus—
9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man(d) and now also as a prisoner(L) of Christ Jesus,
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 Jesus,
11 He was once useless to me, but is now useful to [both] you and me. [Note: Since the name Onesimus means "useful," it appears Paul is making an intentional play on the word].
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.
11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful both to you and to me.
12 [Now] I am sending him back to you in person, [as though he were] part of my very self.
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,
12 As I send him back, it's like I'm coming along with him.
13 I really wanted to keep him [here] with me so that, on your behalf, he could minister to me while in prison for the sake of the Gospel.
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my (l)(Y)imprisonment for the gospel;
13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place.
13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel. forced, but voluntary.
14 But I did not want to do anything without your permission, so that your goodness [of heart] would not be shown out of a feeling of obligation, but out of willingness.
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would (Z)not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.
14 Yet I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be something
15 For possibly Onesimus left you for a short time so that you could have him [back] forever,
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
15 For perhaps (AA)he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,
15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently,
15 15Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you could have him back forever,
16 not as a slave [only], but more than a slave, as a dearly loved brother. [He is that] to me especially, but how much more to you, both in a physical way [i.e., by continuing to serve as your slave] and in [the fellowship of] the Lord [i.e., now also as your brother in Christ].
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
16 (AB)no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, (AC)a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both (AD)in the flesh and in the Lord.
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh(P) and in the Lord.(i)(Q)
16 16no 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.
18 But if he has done anything wrong to you, or owes you any [money], charge it to my account.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;
18 18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah!
19 I, Paul, am writing this in my own handwriting: I will pay you back. [But] I will not mention that you owe me your own self, as well.
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
19 (AF)I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it ((AG)not to (m)mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).
19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand:(T) I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self.
19 19I, 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.)
20 So, brother, I would like to have your help in [the fellowship of] the Lord; cheer me up in Christ [i.e., by welcoming Onesimus back on good terms].
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
20 Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
20 20Yes, brother, I desire this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah!
21 I am writing you, confident that you will be obedient [to my requests], and I know that you will do even more than I am asking [of you].
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
21 (AI)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.
21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
21 21Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And another thing: Prepare a place for me to stay, because I hope that through [an answer to] your prayers I will be returned to you. [Note: Paul was hoping to be released from imprisonment to visit Philemon at Colosse].
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
22 At the same time also prepare me a (AJ)lodging, for (AK)I hope that through (AL)your prayers (AM)I will be given to you.
22 But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
22 22Meanwhile, prepare a guest room for me, too, for I am hoping through your prayers to be returned to you.
Greetings From Paul's Coworkers
24 along with [John] Mark [Note: This shows that Mark was now back in the good graces of Paul. See Acts 15:36-40], Aristarchus, Demas [Note: This man later deserted Paul. See II Tim. 4:10] and Luke, who are [also] my fellow-workers. [Note: These men, unlike Epaphras who was imprisoned with Paul, were free to minister for Christ there in Rome].
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
24 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.