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Philemon 1

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dearly loved fellow worker, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I bring you up in my prayers.

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Greetings and thanks

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dearly loved fellow worker, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I bring you up in my prayers. Because I keep hearing about your love, and the faith you've got toward the Lord Jesus and toward all God's people. And I pray that sharing your faith does its work, as you come to see every good thing that's in you in Christ Jesus. Your love has given us great joy and comfort, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved and fellow worker, and to our beloved Apphia and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, mentioning you always in my prayers. Hearing of your love and faith you have towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the holy ones. So the sharing of your faith can turn out to work by the knowing of every good thing in you in Christ Jesus. Because we've got great joy and comfort in your love, because the insides of the holy ones are refreshed by you, brother.

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

1

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dearly loved fellow worker,

Plain English

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved and fellow worker,

King James Version, 1611

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2

and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

Plain English

and to our beloved Apphia and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

King James Version, 1611

And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Plain English

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

King James Version, 1611

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4

I thank my God every time I bring you up in my prayers.

Plain English

I thank my God, mentioning you always in my prayers.

King James Version, 1611

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5

Because I keep hearing about your love, and the faith you've got toward the Lord Jesus and toward all God's people.

Plain English

Hearing of your love and faith you have towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the holy ones.

King James Version, 1611

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6

And I pray that sharing your faith does its work, as you come to see every good thing that's in you in Christ Jesus.

Plain English

So the sharing of your faith can turn out to work by the knowing of every good thing in you in Christ Jesus.

King James Version, 1611

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7

Your love has given us great joy and comfort, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.

Plain English

Because we've got great joy and comfort in your love, because the insides of the holy ones are refreshed by you, brother.

King James Version, 1611

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Paul asks for Onesimus

So although in Christ I could be blunt about it and just tell you what you ought to do, I'd rather ask you as a favour, for love's sake — me, Paul, an old man now, and a prisoner of Jesus Christ on top of it. I'm asking you for my son Onesimus. I became his father while I've been in these chains. He was no use to you before, but he's of real use now, to you and to me both. And I've sent him back to you. Take him in — it's like sending you my own heart. I'd have liked to keep him here with me, so he could look after me in your place while I'm in chains for the gospel. But I wouldn't do a thing without your say-so. I didn't want your kindness forced out of you. I wanted it given freely. Maybe that's why he was away from you a while — so you could have him back for good. And not as a servant now, but above a servant: a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord? So if you count me a partner, take him in the same as you'd take me. And if he's done you wrong, or he owes you anything, put it on my account. I'm writing this with my own hand, Paul: I'll pay it back. Never mind that you owe me your own self on top of that. Yes, brother — let me have joy of you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. I'm writing to you knowing you'll do what I ask, and knowing you'll go further than I've said. And prepare me a lodging while you are at it, because I trust that through your prayers I will be given back to you. Epaphras, who's in prison here with me in Christ Jesus, says hello. Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Lucas, my fellow workers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

So, though I could be much bold in Christ to order you what's fitting, still for love's sake I rather beg you, being one like Paul the aged, and now a prisoner of Jesus Christ too. I beg you for my son Onesimus, who I've fathered in my chains. Who in time past was of no use to you, but now is of use to you and to me. Him I've sent again. So take him, that is, my own insides. Who I would have kept with me, so in your place he could have served me in the chains of the good news. But without your mind I'd do nothing, so your benefit shouldn't be as it were of need but willingly. Because maybe he left for a season for this reason, so you could have him forever. Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved — specially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you count me a partner, take him in the way you would me. If he's wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account. I Paul have written it with my own hand, I'll pay it back — not to say to you how you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord. Refresh my insides in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing you'll do more than I say too. But with that get me a lodging ready too. Because I trust that through your prayers I'll be given 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. Amen.

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

8

So although in Christ I could be blunt about it and just tell you what you ought to do,

Plain English

So, though I could be much bold in Christ to order you what's fitting,

King James Version, 1611

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9

I'd rather ask you as a favour, for love's sake — me, Paul, an old man now, and a prisoner of Jesus Christ on top of it.

Plain English

still for love's sake I rather beg you, being one like Paul the aged, and now a prisoner of Jesus Christ too.

King James Version, 1611

Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10

I'm asking you for my son Onesimus. I became his father while I've been in these chains.

Plain English

I beg you for my son Onesimus, who I've fathered in my chains.

King James Version, 1611

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11

He was no use to you before, but he's of real use now, to you and to me both.

Plain English

Who in time past was of no use to you, but now is of use to you and to me.

King James Version, 1611

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12

And I've sent him back to you. Take him in — it's like sending you my own heart.

Plain English

Him I've sent again. So take him, that is, my own insides.

King James Version, 1611

Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13

I'd have liked to keep him here with me, so he could look after me in your place while I'm in chains for the gospel.

Plain English

Who I would have kept with me, so in your place he could have served me in the chains of the good news.

King James Version, 1611

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14

But I wouldn't do a thing without your say-so. I didn't want your kindness forced out of you. I wanted it given freely.

Plain English

But without your mind I'd do nothing, so your benefit shouldn't be as it were of need but willingly.

King James Version, 1611

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15

Maybe that's why he was away from you a while — so you could have him back for good.

Plain English

Because maybe he left for a season for this reason, so you could have him forever.

King James Version, 1611

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16

And not as a servant now, but above a servant: a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

Plain English

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved — specially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17

So if you count me a partner, take him in the same as you'd take me.

Plain English

So if you count me a partner, take him in the way you would me.

King James Version, 1611

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18

And if he's done you wrong, or he owes you anything, put it on my account.

Plain English

If he's wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account.

King James Version, 1611

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19

I'm writing this with my own hand, Paul: I'll pay it back. Never mind that you owe me your own self on top of that.

Plain English

I Paul have written it with my own hand, I'll pay it back — not to say to you how you owe me even your own self besides.

King James Version, 1611

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20

Yes, brother — let me have joy of you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Plain English

Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord. Refresh my insides in the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21

I'm writing to you knowing you'll do what I ask, and knowing you'll go further than I've said.

Plain English

Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing you'll do more than I say too.

King James Version, 1611

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22

And prepare me a lodging while you are at it, because I trust that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

Plain English

But with that get me a lodging ready too. Because I trust that through your prayers I'll be given to you.

King James Version, 1611

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23

Epaphras, who's in prison here with me in Christ Jesus, says hello.

Plain English

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

King James Version, 1611

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

24

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Lucas, my fellow workers.

Plain English

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

King James Version, 1611

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

25

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

King James Version, 1611

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.