| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, | 1This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, |
| 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. | 2and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house. |
| 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! | 3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer |
| 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, | 4I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, |
| 5because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. | 5because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. |
| 6I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. | 6And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. |
| 7I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. | 7Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus |
| 8So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, | 8That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. |
| 9I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love--I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus-- | 9But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. |
| 10I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, | 10I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. |
| 11who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. | 11Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. |
| 12I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. | 12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. |
| 13I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. | 13I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. |
| 14However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. | 14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. |
| 15For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, | 15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. |
| 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. | 16He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. |
| 17Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. | 17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. |
| 18Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. | 18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. |
| 19I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. | 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul ! |
| 20Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. | 20Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ. |
| 21Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. | 21I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! |
| 22At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you. | 22One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon. Paul’s Final Greetings |
| 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. | 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. |
| 24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. | 24So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. |
| 25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. | 25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
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