¹ From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24], our brother.

To Philemon, our ·dear friend [brother] and ·worker with us [coworker]; ² to Apphia [^Cperhaps Philemon’s wife], our sister; to Archippus [^Cpossibly Philemon’s son], ·a worker with us [^Lour fellow soldier]; and to the church that meets in your home:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I always thank my God when I ·mention [remember] you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about the love you have for all ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that the ·faith you share [the sharing/fellowship of your faith] may ·make you [enable/empower you to] understand every blessing we have in Christ. ⁷ I have great joy and comfort, my brother, because the love you have shown to ·God’s people [^Tthe saints] has refreshed ·them [their hearts; ^Ltheir inward parts; ^Cthe seat of emotions].

Accept Onesimus as a Brother

⁸ So, in Christ, I could be bold and order you to do what is ·right [required; proper; your duty]. ⁹ But because I love you, I am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you instead. I, Paul, an old man now and also a prisoner [^Cin Rome, about ad 60; Acts 28:16–31; Phil. 1:7] for Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you for my child Onesimus, ·who became my child [^Lwhom I begat/fathered; ^CPaul evidently led Onesimus to Christ in Rome] while I was in prison. ¹¹ In the past he was ·useless [unprofitable; worthless] to you, but now he has become ·useful [helpful; valuable] for both you and me [^Ca play on words, since Onesimus means “useful” or “helpful”].

¹² I am sending him back to you, and ·with him I am sending my own heart [or he is my very heart]. ¹³ I wanted to keep him with me so that ·in your place [or on your behalf] he might ·help [serve] me while I am in prison for the ·Good News [Gospel]. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without ·asking you first [your consent] so that any good you do for me will be because you want to do it, not ·because I forced you [out of compulsion]. ¹⁵ [^LFor] Maybe Onesimus was separated from you for a short time so you could have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a loved brother. ·I love him very much, but you will love him even more [^L…especially to me, but more so to you], both ·as a person [or in the natural realm; ^Lin the flesh] and ·as a believer in the Lord [or in the spiritual realm; ^Lin the Lord].

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, ·welcome [receive; accept] Onesimus as you would ·welcome [receive; accept] me. ¹⁸ If he has ·done anything wrong to [defrauded; harmed] you or if he owes you anything, charge that to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand [^Ccontrary to his usual practice of using a scribe, or amanuensis; Rom. 16:22]. I will pay it back, and I will ·say nothing about what [make no mention that] you owe me for your ·own life [very self; ^CPaul had evidently led Philemon to Christ]. ²⁰ ·So [^LYes], my brother, I ask ·that you do this for me [for this benefit/favor from you] in the Lord: Refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ I write this letter, ·knowing [^Lconfident of your obedience/compliance, knowing] that you will do what I ask you and even more.

²² One more thing—prepare a ·room [guest room] for me in which to stay, because I hope God will answer your prayers and I will be ·able to come [restored; ^Lgranted] to you.

Final Greetings

²³ Epaphras [Col. 1:7; 4:12], a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you. ²⁴ And also Mark [Acts 12:25; 13:13; 15:37–39; Col. 4:10], Aristarchus [Acts 19:29; Col. 4:10], Demas [Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10], and Luke [Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11], ·workers together with me [my coworkers], send greetings.

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.