腓利门书
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
问安
1 为基督耶稣被囚禁的保罗，和提摩太弟兄，写信给我们所爱的，又一同作工的腓利门， 2 和亚腓亚姊妹，并我们的战友亚基布，以及在你家里的教会。 3 愿恩惠平安从我们的父 神和主耶稣基督临到你们。
称赞腓利门
4-5 我听见你对主耶稣和众圣徒有爱心和信心，我每逢祷告提到你的时候，就常常感谢我的 神。 6 愿你与众人分享你的信心的时候，会产生功效，使我们可以知道在我们中间的一切善事，都是为基督作的。 7 弟兄啊，众圣徒的心既然从你得到舒畅，我也因你的爱心，得到更大的喜乐和安慰。
为欧尼西慕请求
8 我在基督里虽然可以放胆吩咐你作应作的事， 9 然而像我这上了年纪的保罗，现在又是为基督耶稣被囚禁的，宁愿凭着爱心请求你， 10 就是为我在囚禁时所生的儿子欧尼西慕求你； 11 他从前对你没有甚么好处，但现在对你我都有好处。 12 我现在打发他亲自回到你那里去；他是我所心爱的。 13 我本来想把他留在我这里，使他在我为福音被囚禁时，可以替你服事我。 14 但还没有得到你的同意，我就不愿意这样作，好叫你的善行不是出于勉强，而是出于甘心。 15 也许他暂时离开你，正是为了使你永远得着他， 16 不再是奴隶，而是高过奴隶，是亲爱的弟兄。对我固然是这样，对你来说，不论按肉身或在主内的关系，更是这样。
17 所以，你要是把我看作同伴，就接纳他好象接纳我一样。 18 如果他使你受了损失，或欠你甚么，都记在我的帐上。 19 “我必偿还”，这是我保罗亲手写的。用不着我说，甚至你的生命，你也是欠我的。 20 所以弟兄啊！让我在主里得到你的帮助，使我的心在基督里得着畅快。
21 我深信你会听从，也知道你所作的必超过我所说的，因此才写信给你。 22 同时，还请你为我预备住的地方，因为我盼望借着你们的祷告，可以获得释放到你们那里去。
问候的话
23 为基督耶稣的缘故和我一同坐监的以巴弗， 24 以及我的同工马可、亚里达古、底马、路加都问候你。 25 愿主耶稣基督的恩惠常与你们同在。（“与你们同在”原文作“与你们的心灵同在”；好些抄本在这书末有“阿们”一词。）
Philemon
Easy-to-Read Version
1 Greetings from Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, our brother.
To Philemon, our dear friend and worker with us. 2 Also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, who serves with us in the Lord’s army, and to the church that meets in your home.
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I remember you in my prayers. And I always thank my God for you. 5 I thank God because I hear about the love you have for all of God’s holy people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the faith you share will make you understand every blessing we have in Christ. 7 My brother, you have shown love to God’s people, and your help has greatly encouraged them. What a great joy and encouragement that has been to me.
Accept Onesimus as a Brother
8 There is something that you should do. And because of the authority I have in Christ, I feel free to command you to do it. 9 But I am not commanding you; I am asking you to do it out of love. I, Paul, am an old man now, and I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison. 11 In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful[a] for both you and me.
12 I am sending him back to you, but it’s as hard as losing part of myself. 13 I would like to keep him here to help me while I am still in prison for telling the Good News. By helping me here, he would be representing you. 14 But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then whatever you do for me will be what you want to do, not what I forced you to do.
15 Onesimus was separated from you for a short time. Maybe that happened so that you could have him back forever, 16 not to be just a slave, but better than a slave, to be a dear brother. That’s what he is to me. And I know he will mean even more to you, both as your slave and as one who shares your faith in the Lord.
17 If you accept me as your friend, then accept Onesimus back. Welcome him like you would welcome me. 18 If he has done any wrong to you or owes you anything, charge that to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this in my own handwriting: I will pay back anything Onesimus owes. And I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life. 20 So, my brother, as a follower of the Lord please do this favor[b] for me. It would be such a great encouragement to me as your brother in Christ. 21 I write this letter knowing that you will do what I ask, and even more than I ask.
22 Also, please prepare a room for me. I hope that God will answer your prayers and that I will be able to come and see you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras is a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus. He sends you his greetings. 24 Also Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send their greetings. They are workers together with me.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Footnotes
- Philemon 1:11 useless … useful Paul here makes a play on words with the name Onesimus, which means “useful.”
- Philemon 1:20 please do this favor Paul here makes another wordplay on the name Onesimus, using a verb related to it.
Philemon
King James Version
1 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 fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 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.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International