Philemon
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Salutation
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,[a]
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister,[b] 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 When I remember you[c] in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we[d] may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.[e] 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful[f] both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back 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 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
Final Greetings and Benediction
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,[g] 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[h]
Footnotes
- Philemon 1:1 Gk the brother
- Philemon 1:2 Gk the sister
- Philemon 1:4 From verse 4 through verse 21, you is singular
- Philemon 1:6 Other ancient authorities read you (plural)
- Philemon 1:9 Or as an ambassador of Christ Jesus, and now also his prisoner
- Philemon 1:11 The name Onesimus means useful or (compare verse 20) beneficial
- Philemon 1:23 Here you is singular
- Philemon 1:25 Other ancient authorities add Amen
Philemon
Maori Bible
1 Na Paora, na te herehere a Karaiti Ihu, na to taua teina hoki, na Timoti, ki ta maua e aroha nei, ki to maua hoa mahi, ki a Pirimona,
2 Ki a Apia hoki, ko to maua tuahine, ki to maua hoa hoia, ki a Arakipu, ki te hahi hoki i tou whare:
3 Kia tau te aroha noa ki a koutou, me te rangimarie, he mea na te Atua, na to tatou Matua, na te Ariki hoki, na Ihu Karaiti.
4 Tenei ahau te whakawhetai atu nei ki toku Atua, mau tonu toku mahara ki a koe i aku karakiatanga:
5 He rongo noku ki tou aroha, ki tou whakapono ki te Ariki, ki a Ihu, a ki te hunga tapu katoa;
6 Mo te whakahoatanga mai o tou whakapono kia whai mana, i runga i te matauranga ki nga pai katoa i roto i a koutou, he mea ki a Karaiti Ihu.
7 He nui hoki to matou koa, marie ana hoki te ngakau i tou aroha, no te mea e ora ana nga ngakau o te hunga tapu i a koe, e toku teina.
8 Heoi ahakoa he nui toku maia i roto i a te Karaiti ki te whakatakoto atu i te mea tika ki a koe,
9 Na te aroha ke taku ka inoi atu nei, ara taku, ta te koroheke, ta Paora, he herehere nei inaianei na Ihu Karaiti;
10 He kupu tenei naku ki a koe mo taku tamaiti, mo Onehimu, he mea whanau naku i ahau nei i te herehere:
11 I mua, kahore tetahi mea pai ana ki a koe; inaianei ia, kua whai pai koe i a ia, ahau ano hoki.
12 Kua whakahokia atu nei ia e ahau, tona tinana tonu, ko toku manawa ake ia.
13 I mea ano ahau kia puritia ia ki ahau, hei whakakapi mou ki te mahi ki ahau i roto i nga mekameka o te rongopai:
14 Otira kahore nei tau kupu, kihai ahau i pai kia meatia tetahi mea; kei riro whakauaua mai tou pai; engari i roto ano i te ngakau.
15 Ko te mea ano pea tenei i motuhia mai ai ia i a koe mo tetahi wa, kia mau pu ai ia i a koe ake ake;
16 Ehara i te mea hei pononga ia i enei wa, engari tera atu i te pononga, he teina i nui rawa ai toku aroha, tera ia e nui rawa atu tou, i te kikokiko, i te Ariki ano hoki.
17 Na, ki te mea kua waiho ahau hei hoa mou, manako mai ki a ia me te mea ko ahau.
18 Ki te mea ia kua he ia ki tetahi mea au, kei a ia ranei tetahi mea au, waiho mai maku tena e whakaaro;
19 He tuhituhi tenei naku, na Paora, na toku ringaringa ake, maku e whakautu; na kahore aku meatanga atu ki a koe, tera ano taku taonga kei a koe, ko koe ano.
20 Ae ra, e toku teina, kia whai pai ahau i a koe i roto i te Ariki: kia ora toku ngakau i roto i te Ariki.
21 He u no toku whakaaro ki a koe ka ngohengohe, i tuhituhi atu ai ahau ki a koe, e mohio ana hoki, tera e nui atu tau e mea ai i taku e korero atu nei.
22 Tenei ano hoki, kia rite mai i a koe tetahi whare moku: e mea ana hoki ahau tera e mana a koutou inoi, a ka tukua atu ahau kia a koutou.
23 Tenei te oha atu nei ki a koe a Epapara, toku hoa herehere i roto i a Karaiti Ihu,
24 Ratou tahi ko Maka, ko Aritaku, ko Rimaha, ko Ruka, oku hoa mahi.
25 Kia tau te aroha noa o to tatou Ariki, o Ihu Karaiti ki o koutou wairua. Amine.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.