New Living Translation

New King James Version

Greetings from Paul

This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker,

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Greeting

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

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and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in youra house.

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to [a]the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

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

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Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon,

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Philemon’s Love and Faith

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

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because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.

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

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And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.

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that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in [b]you in Christ Jesus.

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Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

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For we [c]have great [d]joy and [e]consolation in your love, because the [f]hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

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Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.

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The Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,

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But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me — Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.b

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

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I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.

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I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,

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Onesimusc hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.

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who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

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I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

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I am sending him [g]back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own [h]heart,

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I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.

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whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

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But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

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But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

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It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.

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For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

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He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

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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.

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

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Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

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

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If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.

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But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!

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I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay — not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

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Yes, my brother, please do me this favord for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

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

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I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!

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

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One more thing — please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.

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But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

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Paul’s Final Greetings

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.

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Farewell

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

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So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.

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as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

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May 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.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

Philemon 1

Philemon 1