Salutation

(A)Paul, (B)a prisoner of (C)Christ Jesus, and (D)Timothy [a]our brother,

To Philemon our beloved brother and (E)fellow worker, and to Apphia [b](F)our sister, and to (G)Archippus our (H)fellow soldier, and to (I)the church in your house: (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

(K)I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I (L)hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the [c]saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective [d]through the (M)knowledge of every good thing which is in you [e]for the sake of Christ. For I have had great (N)joy and comfort in your love, because the [f]hearts of the [g]saints have been (O)refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore, (P)though I have [h]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is (Q)proper, yet for love’s sake I rather (R)appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, [i]an (S)old man, and now also (T)a prisoner of (U)Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I (V)appeal to you for my (W)[j]son [k](X)Onesimus, whom I [l]fathered in my [m]imprisonment, 11 who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my [n](Y)imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would (Z)not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps it was (AA)for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 (AB)no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, (AC)a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both (AD)in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a (AE)partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 (AF)I, Paul, have written this with my own hand, I will repay it ((AG)not to [o]mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; (AH)refresh my heart in Christ.

21 (AI)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22 At the same time also prepare me a (AJ)guest room, for (AK)I hope that through (AL)your prayers (AM)I will be given to you.

23 (AN)Epaphras, my (AO)fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do (AP)Mark, (AQ)Aristarchus, (AR)Demas, and (AS)Luke, my (AT)fellow workers.

25 (AU)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be (AV)with your spirit.[p]

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:1 Lit the
  2. Philemon 1:2 Lit the
  3. Philemon 1:5 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  4. Philemon 1:6 Or in
  5. Philemon 1:6 Lit toward Christ
  6. Philemon 1:7 Lit inward parts
  7. Philemon 1:7 See note v 5
  8. Philemon 1:8 Lit much
  9. Philemon 1:9 Or an ambassador
  10. Philemon 1:10 Or child
  11. Philemon 1:10 I.e., useful
  12. Philemon 1:10 I.e., led to the Lord
  13. Philemon 1:10 Lit bonds
  14. Philemon 1:13 Lit bonds
  15. Philemon 1:19 Lit say
  16. Philemon 1:25 One early ms adds Amen

Greeting

Paul, a (A)prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to [a]the beloved Apphia, (B)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.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

(C)I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, (D)hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective (E)by the acknowledgment of (F)every good thing which is in [b]you in Christ Jesus. For we [c]have great [d]joy and [e]consolation in your love, because the [f]hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son (G)Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12 I am sending him [g]back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own [h]heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, (H)that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him 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 (I)flesh and in the Lord.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own (J)hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 (K)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for (L)I trust that (M)through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Farewell

23 (N)Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do (O)Mark, (P)Aristarchus, (Q)Demas, (R)Luke, my fellow laborers.

25 (S)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:2 NU our sister Apphia
  2. Philemon 1:6 NU, M us
  3. Philemon 1:7 NU had
  4. Philemon 1:7 M thanksgiving
  5. Philemon 1:7 comfort
  6. Philemon 1:7 Lit. inward parts, heart, liver, and lungs
  7. Philemon 1:12 NU back to you in person, that is, my own heart,
  8. Philemon 1:12 See v. 7.

Correcting False Teaching

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus (C)according to the commandment of (D)God our Savior, and of (E)Christ Jesus, who is our (F)hope,

To (G)Timothy, (H)my true [a]son in the faith: (I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and (J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

Just as I urged you [b]upon my departure for (K)Macedonia, to remain on at (L)Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to (M)teach strange doctrines, nor to [c]pay attention to (N)myths and endless (O)genealogies, which give rise to useless (P)speculation rather than (Q)advance [d]the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. But the goal of our [e](R)instruction is love (S)from a pure heart, from a (T)good conscience, and from a sincere (U)faith. Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to (V)fruitless discussion, (W)wanting to be (X)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

But we know that (Y)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that (Z)law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and (AA)rebellious, for the (AB)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and (AC)worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the [f](AD)sexually immoral, (AE)homosexuals, [g](AF)slave traders, (AG)liars, (AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (AI)sound teaching, 11 according to (AJ)the glorious gospel of (AK)the blessed God, with which I have been (AL)entrusted.

Paul’s Testimony

12 I thank (AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has (AN)strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, (AO)putting me into service, 13 even though I was previously a blasphemer and a (AP)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was (AQ)shown mercy because (AR)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the (AS)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the (AT)faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 (AU)It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that (AV)Christ Jesus came into the world to (AW)save sinners, among whom (AX)I am foremost. 16 Yet for this reason I (AY)found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might (AZ)demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [h]who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the (BA)King [i]eternal, (BB)immortal, (BC)invisible, the (BD)only God, (BE)be honor and glory [j]forever and ever. Amen.

18 This (BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, (BG)my [k]son, in accordance with the (BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you (BI)fight the good fight, 19 keeping (BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to [l](BK)their faith. 20 [m]Among these are (BL)Hymenaeus and (BM)Alexander, whom I have (BN)handed over to Satan, so that they will be (BO)taught not to blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:2 Or child
  2. 1 Timothy 1:3 Lit while going to
  3. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or occupy themselves with
  4. 1 Timothy 1:4 I.e., prob. the plan of salvation
  5. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit commandment
  6. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or fornicators
  7. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or kidnappers
  8. 1 Timothy 1:16 Or destined to
  9. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit of the ages
  10. 1 Timothy 1:17 Lit to the ages of the ages
  11. 1 Timothy 1:18 Or child
  12. 1 Timothy 1:19 Or the
  13. 1 Timothy 1:20 Lit Of

Greeting

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

To Timothy, a (A)true son in the faith:

(B)Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

No Other Doctrine

As I urged you (C)when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may [a]charge some (D)that they teach no other doctrine, (E)nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now (F)the purpose of the commandment is love (G)from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from [b]sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to (H)idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

But we know that the law is (I)good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is [c]contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the (J)blessed God which was (K)committed to my trust.

Glory to God for His Grace(L)

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has (M)enabled me, (N)because He counted me faithful, (O)putting me into the ministry, 13 although (P)I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an [d]insolent man; but I obtained mercy because (Q)I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 (R)And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, (S)with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 (T)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that (U)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to (V)the King eternal, (W)immortal, (X)invisible, to [e]God (Y)who alone is wise, (Z)be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight

18 This [f]charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are (AA)Hymenaeus and (AB)Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to (AC)blaspheme.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:3 command
  2. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit. unhypocritical
  3. 1 Timothy 1:10 opposed
  4. 1 Timothy 1:13 violently arrogant
  5. 1 Timothy 1:17 NU the only God,
  6. 1 Timothy 1:18 command