我是为了传扬基督耶稣而被囚禁的保罗,与提摩太弟兄写信给我们亲爱的同工腓利门弟兄、 亚腓亚姊妹和我们的战友亚基布,以及在腓利门家里聚会的弟兄姊妹。

愿我们的父上帝和主耶稣基督赐给你们恩典和平安!

称赞腓利门

腓利门弟兄,我常常在祷告中为你感谢上帝, 因为我听说了你对主耶稣的信心和对众圣徒的爱心。 我求上帝使你能有效地与人分享信仰,明白我们所做的一切美事都是为了基督。 弟兄啊,你的爱心给我带来极大的喜乐和安慰,因为你使众圣徒感到欣慰。

凭爱心求情

因此,我尽管可以奉基督的名吩咐你去做当做的事, 然而我这上了年纪又为基督耶稣的缘故被囚禁的保罗宁愿凭爱心求你, 10 就是替阿尼西谋[a]求你。他是我在狱中带领归主的属灵儿子, 11 他过去对你没有什么益处,但现在对你对我都有益处。

12 我现在派我深爱的阿尼西谋回你那里。 13 我本想把他留在身边,让他在我为传福音而坐牢期间代替你服侍我。 14 不过,未经你同意,我不愿意这样做,因为我盼望你的善行是出于甘心,而非勉强。 15 或许他暂时离开你是为了让你以后永远得到他。 16 你得到的不再是一个奴隶,而是一位远超过奴隶的亲爱弟兄。对我而言,的确如此,更何况对你呢!就肉身说你们是主仆,但在主里你们是弟兄。

17 如果你当我是同伴,就请你像接纳我一样接纳他。 18 如果他得罪你,或亏欠你什么,都记在我的账上吧。 19 我保罗在此亲笔保证,我必偿还。其实我不说你也知道,连你自己也欠我。

20 弟兄啊,看在主的份上,请你答应我的请求,在基督里让我的心得到安慰吧! 21 我写信给你,深信你一定会照办,甚至超过我的要求。 22 同时,也请你为我预备住处,因为我盼望借着你们的祷告,我可以蒙恩到你们那里。

问候

23 为了基督耶稣的缘故和我一同坐牢的以巴弗问候你。 24 此外,我的同工马可、亚里达古、底马和路加都问候你。

25 愿我们主耶稣基督的恩典与你们同在。阿们!

Footnotes

  1. 1:10 阿尼西谋”这个名字意思是有用、有益处。

我,保罗,为了基督耶稣的缘故成为囚徒,和我们的兄弟提摩太, 写信给我们亲爱的朋友和同事腓利门, 以及我们的姐妹亚腓亚、和我们的战友亚基布及在你们家相聚的教会。

愿我们的父上帝和我主耶稣基督的恩典与和平属于你们。

腓利门的爱与信仰

我在祈祷中提起你时,总是感谢上帝, 因为我听说了你对主耶稣的爱和信仰,以及你对所有上帝子民的爱。 我祈祷你和我们共同享有的信仰能引导你充分理解我们在基督里所有的好事。 你的爱使我感到欢欣鼓舞,因为通过你的努力,上帝子民的心振作起来了。

待阿尼西母为兄弟

尽管做为在基督里你的兄弟,我可以毫无顾忌地命令你履行职责, 但我情愿在爱的基础上请求你。我,保罗,一个上了年纪的人,为了基督耶稣,现在成了囚徒。 10 我对你的请求是为了我的儿子阿尼西母,我在狱中时做了他的父亲。 11 过去他对你没有什么用处,但现在他不仅对你有用,对我也有用。 [a]

12 我派他回到你那里去(应该说派他去那里就是派我的心去了那里)。 13 我本想把他留在我身边,让他能够在我为福音坐牢时代表你为我服务。 14 但我不愿未经你同意做任何事,以便你的善行不是出于勉强,而是出于自愿。

15 也许让他暂时离开你的原因是为了让他永远和你在一起, 16 让他不再做为奴隶,而是比奴隶强。你要把他当做亲爱的兄弟。我很爱他,你会更爱他,不仅做为一个人爱他,而是要把他做为主内的兄弟爱他。

17 因此,如果你确实把我当成伙伴,请像欢迎我一样地欢迎他。 18 如果他亏待你或亏欠你什么东西,就请把这一切都记在我的账上。 19 我,保罗,亲笔写下∶“我会偿还你.”(我不必告诉你,你欠我的是你的生命。) 20 所以,兄弟,我请求你在主内为我做些事情,在基督里振奋我的内心。 21 我相信你会听从我,我才给你写这封信,我知道你做的会远远超过我所要求的。

22 还有,请给我准备一间客房。我相信上帝会回答你们的祷告,让我平安地回到你们那里。

最后的问候

23 在基督耶稣里与我一起坐牢的以巴弗问你好。 24 我的同事马可、亚里达古、底马和路加也问你好!

25 愿主耶稣基督的恩典与你们的精神同在!

Footnotes

  1. 腓 利 門 書 1:11 保罗在此用阿尼西母的名字做了一个游戏,此名意为有用。

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

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker(D) also to Apphia our sister and Archippus(E) our fellow soldier(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:(G)

Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I always thank my God(I) as I remember you in my prayers,(J) because I hear about your love for all his holy people(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.(L) I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,(M) because you, brother, have refreshed(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner(P) of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son(Q) Onesimus,[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.(S) 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains(T) for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced(U) but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave,(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner,(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.(Y) 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh(AA) my heart in Christ. 21 Confident(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.(AD)

23 Epaphras,(AE) my fellow prisoner(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark,(AG) Aristarchus,(AH) Demas(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.(AJ)

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
  2. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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