Philemon
21st Century King James Version
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, Unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,
2 and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, 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 having heard 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 hearts of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Therefore, though I might be bold enough in Christ to enjoin thee to do that which is befitting,
9 yet for love’s sake rather I beseech thee, being such a 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 In time past he was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.
12 I am sending him back. Thou therefore receive him, who is mine own heart.
13 I would have retained him 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 goodness should not be, as it were, of necessity but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him back for ever—
16 not now as a servant, but more than a servant: as a brother beloved, especially 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 aught, put that on mine account.
19 I, Paul, have written this 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 soul 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 besides prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 also Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International