Philemon
Expanded Bible
1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24], our brother.
To Philemon, our ·dear friend [brother] and ·worker with us [coworker]; 2 to Apphia [C perhaps Philemon’s wife], our sister; to Archippus [C possibly Philemon’s son], ·a worker with us [L our fellow soldier]; 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 always thank my God when I ·mention [remember] you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about the love you have for all ·God’s holy people [T the saints] and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the ·faith you share [the sharing/fellowship of your faith] may ·make you [enable/empower you to] understand every blessing we have in Christ. 7 I have great joy and comfort, my brother, because the love you have shown to ·God’s people [T the saints] has refreshed ·them [their hearts; L their inward parts; C the seat of emotions].
Accept Onesimus as a Brother
8 So, in Christ, I could be bold and order you to do what is ·right [required; proper; your duty]. 9 But because I love you, I am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you instead. I, Paul, an old man now and also a prisoner [C in Rome, about ad 60; Acts 28:16–31; Phil. 1:7] for Christ Jesus, 10 am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you for my child Onesimus, ·who became my child [L whom I begat/fathered; C Paul evidently led Onesimus to Christ in Rome] while I was in prison. 11 In the past he was ·useless [unprofitable; worthless] to you, but now he has become ·useful [helpful; valuable] for both you and me [C a play on words, since Onesimus means “useful” or “helpful”].
12 I am sending him back to you, and ·with him I am sending my own heart [or he is my very heart]. 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that ·in your place [or on your behalf] he might ·help [serve] me while I am in prison for the ·Good News [Gospel]. 14 But I did not want to do anything without ·asking you first [your consent] so that any good you do for me will be because you want to do it, not ·because I forced you [out of compulsion]. 15 [L For] Maybe Onesimus was separated from you for a short time so you could have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a loved brother. ·I love him very much, but you will love him even more [L …especially to me, but more so to you], both ·as a person [or in the natural realm; L in the flesh] and ·as a believer in the Lord [or in the spiritual realm; L in the Lord].
17 So if you consider me your partner, ·welcome [receive; accept] Onesimus as you would ·welcome [receive; accept] me. 18 If he has ·done anything wrong to [defrauded; harmed] you or if he owes you anything, charge that to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand [C contrary to his usual practice of using a scribe, or amanuensis; Rom. 16:22]. I will pay it back, and I will ·say nothing about what [make no mention that] you owe me for your ·own life [very self; C Paul had evidently led Philemon to Christ]. 20 ·So [L Yes], my brother, I ask ·that you do this for me [for this benefit/favor from you] in the Lord: Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 I write this letter, ·knowing [L confident of your obedience/compliance, knowing] that you will do what I ask you and even more.
22 One more thing—prepare a ·room [guest room] for me in which to stay, because I hope God will answer your prayers and I will be ·able to come [restored; L granted] to you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras [Col. 1:7; 4:12], a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you. 24 And also Mark [Acts 12:25; 13:13; 15:37–39; Col. 4:10], Aristarchus [Acts 19:29; Col. 4:10], Demas [Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10], and Luke [Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11], ·workers together with me [my coworkers], send greetings.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Филимон
Библия, нов превод от оригиналните езици (с неканоничните книги)
Поздрав и благослов
1 Павел, окован за Иисус Христос, и брат Тимотей – до възлюбения Филимон, наш сътрудник, 2 и до Апфия, възлюбена сестра[a], и до Архип, наш съратник, и до домашната ти църква: 3 благодат и мир на вас от Бога, нашия Отец, и от Господ Иисус Христос.
Обичта и вярата на Филимон
4 (A)(B)Благодаря на моя Бог винаги, когато те споменавам в молитвите си, 5 понеже слушам за твоята обич и вяра, които имаш към Господ Иисус и към всички вярващи. 6 Нека вярата, която ти споделяш с нас, да се изяви на дело в знание за всяко добро сред вас[b] чрез Иисус Христос. 7 (C)Защото твоята обич, брате, предизвика у нас много радост и утеха, понеже душите на вярващите се ободриха чрез тебе.
Молба за Онисим
8 Поради това, макар да имам голяма смелост от Христос да ти заповядвам, каквото подобава, 9 (D)все пак от обич към тебе, моля те – аз, Павел, старец[c], а сега и окован за Иисус Христос, 10 (E)моля те за моя син Онисим, когото родих духовно в оковите си. 11 По-рано той беше безполезен за тебе, а сега е полезен за тебе и за мене. 12 Сега ти го изпращам обратно, а ти го приеми, все едно че приемаш мене. 13 Аз исках да го задържа при себе си, за да ми служи, докато съм в окови заради благовестието, 14 (F)но без твое съгласие не исках да извърша нищо, за да бъде твоята добрина доброволна, а не по принуда.
15 Защото може би той затова се отлъчи за кратко от тебе, за да го приемеш завинаги, 16 вече не като роб, а като нещо повече: като обичан брат – особено за мене, а много повече за тебе – и като вярващ в Господа. 17 И тъй, ако споделяш с мене вярата, приеми го, все едно че съм аз. 18 Ако пък те е ощетил с нещо или ти е длъжен, мини това за моя сметка. 19 Аз, Павел, написах с ръката си: аз ще заплатя! Не искам да ти казвам, че ти ми дължиш и самия себе си. 20 И така, брате, успокой сърцето ми в името на Господа и това ще е моята полза от тебе заради Него.
21 Убеден в твоето послушание, писах ти, знаейки, че ще направиш и повече, отколкото казвам. 22 (G)А също така, приготви ми подслон, защото се надявам, че чрез вашите молитви ще ви бъда подарен.
Заключителни поздрави
23 (H)Поздравява те Епафрас, който е затворен с мене заради Иисус Христос, 24 (I)а също Марк, Аристарх, Димас, Лука – мои сътрудници.
25 Благодатта на нашия Господ Иисус Христос да бъде с вашия дух. Амин.
Philemon
Modern English Version
Salutation
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer, 2 and to beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I thank my God, always mentioning you in my prayers, 5 whenever I hear of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may be most effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you from Christ Jesus. 7 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
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you to do that which is proper, 9 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.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright by © Българско библейско дружество 2013. Използвани с разрешение.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.