New Testament · Philemon

Philemon 1

Greetings from Paul and Timothy

(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)

1Paul, a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, 2and to Apphia our beloved, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the ekklesia in your house:^a

3grace^b to you and peace^c from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua Messiah.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5because I hear of your love^d and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Yeshua and toward all the holy ones^e; 6and I pray that the fellowship^f of your faith may become effective through the complete knowledge of every good thing which is in us for Messiah Yeshua.^g 7For we have much thankfulness and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.^h

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8Therefore, though I have enough confidenceⁱ in Messiah to order you to do what is proper, 9yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you — since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua —

10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, 11who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me, whom I have sent back. 12and you, receive him, that is, my very heart,

13whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the good news; 14but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. 15For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a hour^j, that you would have him back forever, 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in flesh^k and in the Lord.

17If then you regard me a partner^l, accept him as you would me. 18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it — not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well.

20Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

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

22At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope^m that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Additional Greetings

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Messiah Yeshua, greets you, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

25The grace of our Lord Yeshua Messiah be with your spiritⁿ. Amen.