Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and brother Timothy to Philemon our beloved and our fellow worker, and to the beloved Apphia and to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the assembly in your house: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and to all the saints, so that the fellowship of your faith may become effectual in the acknowledgment of every good thing in you to Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and encouragement on account of your love because the innermost parts of the saints have been refreshed by you brother.
So then, having much boldness in Christ to order you what is fitting, for the sake of love I am rather begging, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I am begging you about my child, whom I begot in my bonds, Onesimus, once useless to you but now profitable both to you and to me, whom I’ve sent back, and you receive him (that is my innermost self), who I wanted to keep with me so that he might serve me in the bonds of the joyful news, but without your mind I wanted to do nothing, so that your goodness might be not of necessity but willingly.
For perhaps for this he was separated for a time so that you might have him for ever, no longer as a servant but above a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord?
If then you hold me as a partner receive him as me, and if he has wronged you or owes you anything put this to my account. I, Paul, have written with my own hand - I will repay - though I don’t tell you that you owe even yourself to me too. Yes brother, may I feel joy of you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord!
Being persuaded of your obedience I’ve written to you, knowing that you’ll do even above what I may say. And at the same time prepare me a lodging too, for I hope that through your prayers I’ll be granted to you.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you; Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke - my fellow workers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Truly.
To Philemon, written from Rome by a servant, Onesimus.
This translation,
from the Greek Text used for the ‘Authorized’ or ‘King James’ Version
Copyright © David Lawrie 1998
