Philemon 1 - Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Greeting

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer for Philemon

4 I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I[a] hear about your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6 I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although I[b] have great confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 instead I appeal to you because of love, since I[c] am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you[d] and to me, 12 whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel. 14 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. 15 For perhaps because of this, he was separated from you for a time, in order that you might have him back forever, 16 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.

Paul’s Request to Philemon

17 If therefore you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if in anything he has caused you loss or owes you anything, charge this to my account[e]. 19 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[f]. 20 Yes, brother, I ought to have some benefit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I[g] know that you will do even beyond what I say. 22 At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Final Greetings and Benediction

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:5 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hear about”) which is understood as causal
  2. Philemon 1:8 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as concessive
  3. Philemon 1:9 Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“am”) which is understood as causal
  4. Philemon 1:11 Some manuscripts have “both to you”
  5. Philemon 1:18 Literally “this to me charge to my account”
  6. Philemon 1:19 Literally “even yourself to me you owe besides”
  7. Philemon 1:21 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal

You Might Also Like:

Philemon 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, 2 and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! 4 I give thanks to my God, a...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 Paul, the bound of Christ Jesus [the bound of Jesus Christ], and Timothy, brother, to Philemon, beloved, and our helper [and our even-worker], 2 and to Apphia, most dear sister, and to Archippus, our even-knight, and to the church that is in thine house, 3 grace be to you [grace to you], and pea...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

1 I am Paul. I am in prison because I belong to Christ Jesus. Our brother Timothy and I send greetings to you, Philemon. We love you very much. And you work with us. 2 We also send greetings to our sister Apphia; to Archippus who is worker in God's army as we are; and to the people who meet as a chu...
Read More

Philemon 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always, making ...
Read More

Philemon 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed One, with our brother Timothy, to you, beloved Philemon, our fellow worker; and 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that gathers in your house. 3 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed ...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Greetings to a House Group1 Paul, a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker. 2 To Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the community that meets in your house: 3 Grace to you and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Messi...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Salutation1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,To Phile′mon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apph′ia our sister and Archip′pus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon’s Love and Faith4 ...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Salutation1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,To Phile′mon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Ap′phia our sister and Archip′pus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon’s Love and Faith4 ...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, To Philemon, our dear friend and fellow helper; 2 and to dear sister Apphia, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace be with you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks...
Read More

Philemon 1 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

1 Sha’ul, a prisoner of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua and Timotiyos acheinu [(our) brother]. To Philemon ha’ahuv (the beloved) and our fellow po’el (worker) 2 And to Apphia achoteinu (our sister) and to Archippus our chaver leneshek (comrade arms) and to the Kehillah in your bais. 3 Chen v’Chese...
Read More

Philemon 1 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Greetings1 Paul, a prisoner of King Jesus, and Timothy our brother: to our beloved Philemon, our colleague and partner, 2 to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our comrade-in-arms, and to God’s people who meet in their house. 3 May grace and peace be upon you, from God our father and King Jesus t...
Read More

Philemon 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Salutation1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,[a]To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister,[b] to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon’s Love an...
Read More

Philemon 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Salutation1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,To our beloved coworker Philemon,(A)2 to our[a] sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your[b] house:(B)3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Philemon’s Love and Faith...
Read More

Philemon 1 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, whom he asks to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him back. 1 Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.To Philemon the beloved and our helper, 2 and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, ...
Read More

Philemon 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Greetings from Paul1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your[a] house. 3 Ma...
Read More

Philemon 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

1 This letter is from Paul. I am in prison because of Jesus Christ. Brother Timothy is also writing to you, Philemon. You are a much-loved workman together with us. 2 We are also writing to the church that meets in your home. This letter is also for our Christian sister Apphia and it is for Archipp...
Read More