The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

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- Chapter 1 -

(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

(for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.

But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,

no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!(a)

Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.

So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.(b)

I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

Additional Greetings

Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)1:16 Onesimus was a slave (or indentured servant) who fled, was converted to Christianity by Paul and others, and who then was sent back to his master. His transition from a slave to a servant is a figure for the transition that a person makes who is freed from the slavery of sin, so as to become the servant of all in Christ Jesus.(Conte)

(b)1:20 The last phrase ‘in Domino’ was changed to ‘in Christo’ in accord with the 1590 Sixtus V edition of the Vulgate.(Conte)

(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)

Paul, a prisoner of Christ

(a)

Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,(b)

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)1:10 Onesimus means “useful”.