Philemon
New Matthew Bible
He rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, whom he asks to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him back.
1 Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.
To Philemon the beloved and our helper, 2 and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the congregation of your house.
3 Grace be with you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention always of you in my prayers, 5 when I hear of the love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints, 6 so that the fellowship that you have in the faith is fruitful through the knowledge of all good things, which are in you by Jesus Christ. 7 And we have great joy and consolation over your love. For by you, brother, the saints’ hearts are comforted.
8 Therefore, though I might be bold in Christ to enjoin that which behoves you, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather beseech you, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and now in bonds for Jesus Christ’s sake. 10 I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I begat in my bonds – 11 who in time past was unprofitable to you, but is now able to profit both you and also me, 12 whom I have sent home again. Therefore receive him; that is to say, my own offspring, 13 whom I would gladly have retained with me so that on your behalf he could have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel. 14 Nevertheless, without your consent I would do nothing, because the good that comes of you should not be, as it were, usurped through circumstance, but willing.
15 Perhaps he therefore departed for a season so that you would receive him forever, 16 not now as a servant, but above a servant; I mean a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and also in the Lord. 17 If you count me a fellow, receive him as myself. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, lay it to my charge. 19 I, Paul, have written it with my own hand. I will recompense it.
So I do not say to you that you owe to me even your own self. 20 Even so, brother, let me enjoy this fruit from you in the Lord. Comfort my heart in the Lord.
21 Trusting in your willingness, I have written to you, knowing that you will do more than I say. 22 Moreover, prepare a room for me. For I trust that through the help of your prayers, I shall be given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen.
Sent from Rome by the hands
of Onesimus,
a servant.
Philemon
1599 Geneva Bible
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon
1 Paul handling a base and small matter, yet according to his manner mounteth aloft unto God. 8 Sending again to Philemon his vagabond and thievish servant, he entreateth pardon for him, and very gravely preacheth of Christian equity.
1 Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and our brother Timothy, unto Philemon our dear friend, and fellow helper,
2 And to our dear sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:
3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I (A)give thanks to my God, making mention always of thee in my prayers,
5 (When I hear of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all Saints.)
6 That the [a]fellowship of thy faith may be made effectual, and that whatsoever good thing is in you through Christ Jesus, may be [b]known.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because by thee, brother, the Saints [c]bowels are comforted.
8 Wherefore, though I be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is convenient,
9 [d]Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and even now a prisoner for Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son (B)Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
11 Which in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable both to thee and to me.
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is mine own [e]bowels,
13 Whom I would have received 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 [f]necessity, but willingly.
15 It may be that he therefore [g]departed for [h]a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever,
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, even as a brother beloved, specially to me: how much more then unto thee, both in the [i]flesh and in the Lord?
17 If therefore thou count our things common, receive him as myself.
18 If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on my accounts.
19 I Paul have written this with mine own hand: I will recompense it, albeit I do not say to thee, that thou owest moreover unto me even thine own self.
20 [j]Yea, brother, let me obtain this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.
21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote unto thee knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say,
22 Moreover also prepare me lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,
24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow helpers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen.
¶ Written from Rome to Philemon, and sent by Onesimus a servant.
Footnotes
- Philemon 1:6 By fellowship of faith, he meaneth those duties of charity which are bestowed upon the Saints, and flow forth of an effectual faith.
- Philemon 1:6 That by this means all men may perceive how rich you are in Christ, to wit, in faith, charity, and all bountifulness.
- Philemon 1:7 Because thou didst so dutifully and cheerfully refresh the Saints, that they conceived inwardly a marvelous joy: for by this word (Bowels) is meant not only the inward feeling of wants and miseries that men have one of another’s state, but also that joy and comfort which entereth into the very bowels, as though the heart were refreshed and comforted.
- Philemon 1:9 An example of a Christian exercise and commendation for another man.
- Philemon 1:12 As mine own son, and as if I had begotten him of mine own body.
- Philemon 1:14 That thou mightest not seem to have lent me thy servant upon constraint, but willingly.
- Philemon 1:15 Thus he assuageth the harder kind of speech, which is to say, he ran away.
- Philemon 1:15 For a little time.
- Philemon 1:16 Because he is thy servant, as other servants are, and because he is the Lord’s servant, so that thou must needs love him both for the Lord’s sake, and for thine own sake.
- Philemon 1:20 Good brother let me obtain this benefit at thine hand.
Philemon
Authorized (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.
Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.