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.

Salutation

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer, and to beloved Apphia, and to 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

I thank my God, always mentioning you in my prayers, whenever I hear of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may be most effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you from Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and encouragement on account of your love, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed through you, brother.

Paul Pleads for Onesimus

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you to do that which is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you on behalf of my son Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, 11 who in the past was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back. Therefore receive him as my own heart. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in your place he might serve me during my imprisonment for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I would do nothing, so that your goodness would not be forced, but given willingly. 15 Perhaps this was why he departed for a while, 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 flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 If he wronged you or owes you anything, charge this to my account. 19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, help me rejoice in the Lord, refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Being convinced of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.

22 But, in addition, prepare also lodging for me, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be graciously restored to you.

Final Greetings

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow laborers.

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

Salutación

Pablo, prisionero de Jesucristo, y el hermano Timoteo, al amado Filemón, colaborador nuestro, y a la amada hermana Apia, y a Arquipo(A) nuestro compañero de milicia, y a la iglesia que está en tu casa: Gracia y paz a vosotros, de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo.

El amor y la fe de Filemón

Doy gracias a mi Dios, haciendo siempre memoria de ti en mis oraciones, porque oigo del amor y de la fe que tienes hacia el Señor Jesús, y para con todos los santos; para que la participación de tu fe sea eficaz en el conocimiento de todo el bien que está en vosotros por Cristo Jesús. Pues tenemos gran gozo y consolación en tu amor, porque por ti, oh hermano, han sido confortados los corazones de los santos.

Pablo intercede por Onésimo

Por lo cual, aunque tengo mucha libertad en Cristo para mandarte lo que conviene, más bien te ruego por amor, siendo como soy, Pablo ya anciano, y ahora, además, prisionero de Jesucristo; 10 te ruego por mi hijo Onésimo,[a],(B) a quien engendré en mis prisiones, 11 el cual en otro tiempo te fue inútil, pero ahora a ti y a mí nos es útil, 12 el cual vuelvo a enviarte; tú, pues, recíbele como a mí mismo. 13 Yo quisiera retenerle conmigo, para que en lugar tuyo me sirviese en mis prisiones por el evangelio; 14 pero nada quise hacer sin tu consentimiento, para que tu favor no fuese como de necesidad, sino voluntario.

15 Porque quizá para esto se apartó de ti por algún tiempo, para que le recibieses para siempre; 16 no ya como esclavo, sino como más que esclavo, como hermano amado, mayormente para mí, pero cuánto más para ti, tanto en la carne como en el Señor. 17 Así que, si me tienes por compañero, recíbele como a mí mismo. 18 Y si en algo te dañó, o te debe, ponlo a mi cuenta. 19 Yo Pablo lo escribo de mi mano, yo lo pagaré; por no decirte que aun tú mismo te me debes también. 20 Sí, hermano, tenga yo algún provecho de ti en el Señor; conforta mi corazón en el Señor.

21 Te he escrito confiando en tu obediencia, sabiendo que harás aun más de lo que te digo. 22 Prepárame también alojamiento; porque espero que por vuestras oraciones os seré concedido.

Salutaciones y bendición final

23 Te saludan Epafras,(C) mi compañero de prisiones por Cristo Jesús, 24 Marcos,(D) Aristarco,(E) Demas(F) y Lucas,(G) mis colaboradores.

25 La gracia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo sea con vuestro espíritu. Amén.

Footnotes

  1. Filemón 1:10 Esto es, útil   (v. 11) o provechoso   (v. 20).

Sha’ul, a prisoner of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua and Timotiyos acheinu [(our) brother]. To Philemon ha’ahuv (the beloved) and our fellow po’el (worker)

And to Apphia achoteinu (our sister) and to Archippus our chaver leneshek (comrade arms) and to the Kehillah in your bais.

Chen v’Chesed Hashem and Shalom Hashem to you from Elohim Avinu and from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua.

I always offer a bracha to my G-d when I mention you in my tefillos (prayers),

Because I hear of your ahavah (agapé) and emunah, which you have for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua and for all the Kadoshim.

[I pray] that your emunah (faith) being shared in Moshiach’s kiruv rechokim (bringing near the far away ones) may become effective in the da’as of every mitzvah we may do for Moshiach.

For I had simcha gedolah (much joy) and chizzuk (encouragement) because of your ahavah, for the levavot of the Kadoshim have been refreshed through you, Ach b’Moshiach.

Therefore, though I have much boldness in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach that I could in fact order you to do your chovah musarit (moral duty) of avodas hakodesh (holy service),

Yet I would rather make an appeal on the mekor (basis) of ahavah (agapé)‖I, [Rav] Sha’ul, the Zaken (Elder) but also a prisoner of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

10 I appeal to you concerning beni, having "fathered" him (to a new birth) while in bais hasohar (prison)‖that is, Onesimus (T.N. the slave boy Onesimus’ name means "Useful")

11 The one once "Useless" to you, but, now, both to you and to me "Useful" (Onesimus).

12 I am sending him who is my very lev (heart) back to you.

13 I was wanting to detain him with me, in order that he might function as a keli kodesh (minister), ministering to me in your place, as your murshe (proxy), while I’m detained in the imprisonment of the Besuras HaGeulah.

14 But I wanted to do nothing without your haskamah (consent, approval), in order that the mitzvah you do might not be meshabed (caused to be obligated) or forced, but voluntary.

15 Eppis (for some reason) perhaps he was separated from you for a while in order that you might have him back for Yamim HaOlam,

16 No longer as a bond servant, but, more than a bond servant, an ach ahuv (a beloved brother [in Moshiach]), especially to me, and how much more to you, both as a man and in Adoneinu.

17 So if you consider me partnered to you as a chaver in our [common orthodox Jewish emunah], receive him as you would me.

18 But if in anything he wronged you or owes you, charge this to my cheshbon (account, bill).

19 I, [Rav] Sha’ul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay. This is not to meorer (point out) the fact that on your cheshbon you owe me your very neshamah.

20 Yes, Ach b’Moshiach, I would have some "usefulness" from you in Adoneinu. Refresh my lev in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

21 Confident of you as one who is shomer mitzvot, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even above what I say.

22 Also, this too, prepare a heimishe mekom linah (guest room, lodging place) for me, for I have the tikvah (hope) that through your tefillos I will be restored to you.

23 Drishat Shalom to you from Epaphras, my coprisoner in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

24 Drishat Shalom, also, from Markos, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lukas, my fellow po’alim (workers).

25 The Chen v’Chesed Hashem of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua be with your neshamah.