1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker -
1:2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier - and to the church that meets in your home:
1:3 Grace and peace to you* from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. / *The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
1:5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.
1:6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
1:7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
1:8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
1:9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul - an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus -
1:10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,* who became my son while I was in chains. / *Onesimus means useful.
1:11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
1:12 I am sending him - who is my very heart - back to you.
1:13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.
1:14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
1:15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever -
1:16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
1:17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
1:18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
1:19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back - not to mention that you owe me your very self.
1:20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
1:21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
1:22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
1:24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
1:25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.