v1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,
v2
and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
v3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
v4
I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers,
v5
because I ^[Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hear about”) which is understood as causal] hear about your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.
v6
I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ.
v7
For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
v8
Therefore, although I ^[Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as concessive] have great confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,
v9
instead I appeal to you because of love, since I ^[Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“am”) which is understood as causal] am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
v10
I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus.
v11
Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you ^[Some manuscripts have “both to you”] and to me,
v12
whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart,
v13
whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel.
v14
But apart from your consent, I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good deed might be not as according to necessity, but according to your own free will.
v15
For perhaps because of this, he was separated from you for a time, in order that you might have him back forever,
v16
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
v17
If therefore you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me.
v18
But if in anything he has caused you loss or owes you anything, charge this to my account ^[Literally “this to me charge to my account”].
v19
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will pay it back, lest I mention to you that you owe me even your very self besides ^[Literally “even yourself to me you owe besides”].
v20
Yes, brother, I ought to have some benefit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
v21
Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I ^[Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal] know that you will do even beyond what I say.
v22
At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
v23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
v24
and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
v25
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.