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Philemon
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Salutation

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

To our beloved coworker Philemon,(A) 2 to our[a] sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your[b] house:(B)

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 when I mention you[c] in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.(C) 6 I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we[d] share in Christ.[e] 7 I have[f] indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.(D)

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, 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.[g] 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.(E) 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful[h] to[i] you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.[j] 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,(F) 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.(G) 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, 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.(H)

17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.(I) 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. 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.[k] 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.(J)

22 One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.(K)

Final Greetings and Benediction

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,[l](L) 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.(M)

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[m](N)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Other ancient authorities add beloved
  2. 2 Gk your is singular
  3. 4 In verses 4–21, you is singular
  4. 6 Other ancient authorities read you (plural)
  5. 6 Other ancient authorities add Jesus
  6. 7 Other ancient authorities read we have
  7. 9 Or as an ambassador of Christ Jesus, and now also his prisoner
  8. 11 The name Onesimus means useful or beneficial
  9. 11 Other ancient authorities read both to
  10. 12 Other ancient authorities read you; receive him
  11. 20 Other ancient authorities read in the Lord
  12. 23 Here you is singular
  13. 25 Other ancient authorities add Amen
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Philemon
New American Standard Bible

Salutation

1 (A)Paul, (B)a prisoner of (C)Christ Jesus, and (D)Timothy [a]our brother,

To Philemon our beloved brother and (E)fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia [b](F)our sister, and to (G)Archippus our (H)fellow soldier, and to (I)the church in your house: 3 (J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 (K)I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I (L)hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the [c]saints; 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective [d]through the (M)knowledge of every good thing which is in you [e]for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have had great (N)joy and comfort in your love, because the [f]hearts of the [g]saints have been (O)refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, (P)though I have [h]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is (Q)proper, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather (R)appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, [i]an (S)old man, and now also (T)a prisoner of (U)Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I (V)appeal to you for my (W)[j]son [k](X)Onesimus, whom I [l]fathered in my [m]imprisonment, 11 who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my [n](Y)imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would (Z)not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps it was (AA)for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 (AB)no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, (AC)a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both (AD)in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a (AE)partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 (AF)I, Paul, have written this with my own hand, I will repay it ((AG)not to [o]mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; (AH)refresh my heart in Christ.

21 (AI)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

22 At the same time also prepare me a (AJ)guest room, for (AK)I hope that through (AL)your prayers (AM)I will be given to you.

23 (AN)Epaphras, my (AO)fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do (AP)Mark, (AQ)Aristarchus, (AR)Demas, and (AS)Luke, my (AT)fellow workers.

25 (AU)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be (AV)with your spirit.[p]

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:1 Lit the
  2. Philemon 1:2 Lit the
  3. Philemon 1:5 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  4. Philemon 1:6 Or in
  5. Philemon 1:6 Lit toward Christ
  6. Philemon 1:7 Lit inward parts
  7. Philemon 1:7 See note v 5
  8. Philemon 1:8 Lit much
  9. Philemon 1:9 Or an ambassador
  10. Philemon 1:10 Or child
  11. Philemon 1:10 I.e., useful
  12. Philemon 1:10 I.e., led to the Lord
  13. Philemon 1:10 Lit bonds
  14. Philemon 1:13 Lit bonds
  15. Philemon 1:19 Lit say
  16. Philemon 1:25 One early ms adds Amen
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