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.
Read full chapter
Philemon
American Standard Version
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy [a]our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, 2 and to Apphia [b]our sister, and to 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 always, making mention of thee in my prayers, 5 hearing of [c]thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; 6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in [d]you, unto Christ. 7 For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul [e]the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: 10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, [f]Onesimus, 11 who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me: 12 whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart: 13 whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the [g]gospel: 14 but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15 For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; 16 no longer as a [h]servant, but more than a [i]servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself. 18 But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account; 19 I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides. 20 Yea, brother, let me have [j]joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say. 22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee; 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.
25 The grace of [k]our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. [l]Amen.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Philemon 1:1 Greek the brother.
- Philemon 1:2 Greek the sister.
- Philemon 1:5 Or, thy love and faith
- Philemon 1:6 Many ancient authorities read us.
- Philemon 1:9 Or, an ambassador, and now etc.
- Philemon 1:10 The Greek word means Helpful. Compare verse 20 margin.
- Philemon 1:13 Greek good tidings. See marginal note on Mt. 4:23.
- Philemon 1:16 Greek bondservant.
- Philemon 1:16 Greek bondservant.
- Philemon 1:20 Or, help. Compare verse 10 margin.
- Philemon 1:25 Some ancient authorities read the.
- Philemon 1:25 Many ancient authorities omit Amen.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)