Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Greetings from Paul and Timothy

Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman,

1

Greeting

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker

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and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which [is] in thine house.

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and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

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

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

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Philemon's Faith and Love

I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers,

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Philemon’s Love and Faith

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,

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hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints,

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because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

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in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ [Jesus].

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and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.a

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For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

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For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

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Paul's Appeal for Onesimus

Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

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Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,

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for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you — I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus —

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I exhort thee for *my* child, whom I have begotten in [my] bonds, Onesimus,

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I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus,b whose father I became in my imprisonment.

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once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:

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(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)

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whom I have sent back to thee: [but do *thou* receive] him, that is, *my* bowels:

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I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.

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whom *I* was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

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I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel,

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but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:

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but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

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for perhaps for this reason he has been separated [from thee] for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever;

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For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,

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not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in [the] flesh and in [the] Lord?

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

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If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner [with thee], receive him as me;

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So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.

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but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything [to thee], put this to my account.

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If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

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*I* Paul have written [it] with mine own hand; *I* will repay [it]: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me.

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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it — to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

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Yea, brother, *I* would have profit of *thee* in [the] Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

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Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

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Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

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Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

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But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers.

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At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

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Additional Greetings

Epaphras salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;

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Final Greetings

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,

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Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

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

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

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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Philemon 1

Philemon 1