| New Living Translation | Christian Standard Bible |
| 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, | 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, |
| 2and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house. | 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home. |
| 3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer | 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, | 4I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, |
| 5because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. | 5because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. |
| 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. | 6I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. |
| 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 | 7For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. |
| 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. | 8For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, |
| 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. | 9I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, |
| 10I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. | 10appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains. |
| 11Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. | 11Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. |
| 12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. | 12I am sending him back to you--I am sending my very own heart. |
| 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. | 13I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. |
| 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. | 14But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. |
| 15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. | 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, |
| 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. | 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave--as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. |
| 17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. | 17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me. |
| 18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. | 18And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. |
| 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 ! | 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it--not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. |
| 20Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ. | 20Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. |
| 21I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! | 21Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. |
| 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 | 22Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. |
| 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. | 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do |
| 24So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. | 24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers. |
| 25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. | 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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