Translation in British English
1:1 Paul, a captive for Christ Jesus, alongside Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our cherished friend and fellow worker,
1:2 and to our dear Apphia, and to Archippus, our comrade in arms, and to the congregation meeting in your home:
1:3 Wishing you grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I offer my gratitude to God, always remembering you in my prayers,
1:5 upon hearing of your love and faith, which you hold towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints;
1:6 praying that your sharing of the faith may become effective in recognizing every good thing that we have in Christ.
1:7 For your love has given me great joy and comfort, as you, brother, have revived the hearts of the saints.
1:8 Therefore, although in Christ I could assert my authority to instruct you in what is proper,
1:9 out of love, I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an elder and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
1:10 I implore you on behalf of my son Onesimus, whom I have fathered while in chains:
1:11 Once he was of little use to you, but now he is valuable to both of us.
1:12 I am sending him back to you, embracing him as my very heart.
1:13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he might have served me in my imprisonment for the gospel;
1:14 but I wanted to do nothing without your consent, so that your kindness would be voluntary and not forced.
1:15 Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,
1:16 no longer as a servant, but more than a servant—a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
1:17 If you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
1:18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge it to my account;
1:19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. Not to mention that you owe me your very self.
1:20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
1:21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
1:22 And one more thing: prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers, I will be graciously given to you.
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you;
1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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