English Standard Version

King James Bible

Greeting

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

Greetings from Paul and Timothy

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

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

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And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy 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 Love and Faith

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

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Philemon's Faith and Love

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

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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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Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

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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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That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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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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For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

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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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Paul's Appeal for Onesimus

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

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

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

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I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

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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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Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

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

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Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

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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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Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

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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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But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

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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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For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

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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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Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

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

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If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

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

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If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

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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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I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

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

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Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

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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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Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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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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But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

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Final Greetings

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

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Additional Greetings

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

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

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Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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

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

{ Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant. }

Parallel

English Standard Version

King James Bible

Philemon 1

Philemon 1