Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Philemon 1
Greeting
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving for Philemon’s Love and Trust
I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear about your love and trust toward the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones. I pray that the sharing of your trust may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing among us for Christ. For I have received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.
An Appeal for Onesimus
Therefore, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is fitting, because of love I prefer to appeal to you—being such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became in my chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. I am sending him back to you—him, that is, my own heart. I wanted to keep him with me so that he might serve me on your behalf in my chains for the good news. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be by compulsion but willingly.
No Longer as a Slave but More than a Slave
Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while: so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. Therefore, if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
Final Requests and Greetings
At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given back to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.