Philemon

1¹From: Paul, a prisoner (for) Jesus Christ's (sake), and Timothy our brother.

To: Philemon our dearly beloved and fellow worker, ²and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus, our fellow soldier and to the church in your house;

³Grace and peace to you from god, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴I thank my God for you, always mentioning you in my prayers. ⁵Hearing of your LOVE and faith, toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, ⁶that the (communication) of your faith may be (powerfully effective) and (result) in the knowledge of God's good gifts in you through Christ Jesus. ⁷Because we have great joy and consolation in your LOVE because the HEARTS of the saints are refreshed by you, (beloved). ⁸So, although I might be (very) bold in Christ to (direct with authority), you, who (come up to the mark), ⁹however, for the sake of LOVE I (implore) you, being Paul (the older) and now a prisoner for Jesus Christ sake. ¹⁰I (implore) you for my (spiritual) son, a runaway slave, whom I've (converted) while in prison, ¹¹who in time past was (useless; unusable) to you, has now become ( a brother Christian) to (us), ¹²whom I've sent (back); therefore, receive him that is (close to) my own heart, ¹³whom I would have kept with me, that on your (behalf) he might have ministered to me (suffering for the sake) of the gospel; ¹⁴but without your (permission) I will do nothing so your benefit wouldn't be of necessity but of willingness, as it were. ¹⁵(Maybe) he departed for a season that you should receive him forever, ¹⁶not as a servant now but above the (status) of servant, a beloved brother, especially to me and even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

¹⁷If you count me (an intimate friend), receive him as though he were me. ¹⁸If he has wronged you or owes you anything charge it to me. ¹⁹I, Paul, writing this in my own hand (consider it a promisary note), I will repay it; (even though) I don't say to you how much you owe me, (yourself made a Christian through my ministry). ²⁰Yes, beloved, (help) me to have joy of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. ²¹I wrote you having confidence in your obedience knowing you will go beyond what I ask.

²²Greet there with you Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Jesus Christ, ²⁴and my fellow workers, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke. ²⁵The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.