¹ Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother,—unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours,

² And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, and unto the assembly which meeteth, at thy house:

³ Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I am giving thanks unto my God—always, making mention, of thee, in my prayers,

⁵ Hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints,—

⁶ To the end that, the fellowship of thy faith, may become, energetic, by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards Christ;

⁷ For, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them by thee, brother.

⁸ Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting,

⁹ Yet, for loves sake, I rather exhort,—being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even a prisoner of Christ Jesus,—

¹⁰ I exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds,—Onesimus:

¹¹ Him who, at one time, was, unto thee, unserviceable, but, now, unto thee and unto me, serviceable;

¹² Whom I have sent back unto thee—him, that is, my own, tender affections!—

¹³ Whom, I, was minded, with myself, to detain, that, in thy behalf, unto me, he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message;

¹⁴ But, apart from thy mind, I wished to do, nothing, that, not as by necessity, thy goodness should be, but, by choice.

¹⁵ For, peradventure, for this cause, was he separated for an hour, that, as an age-abiding possession, thou mightest have him back,—

¹⁶ No longer as a servant, but above a servant—a brother beloved, very greatly to me, but, how much rather, to thee—both in the flesh and in the Lord!

¹⁷ If, therefore, thou holdest me as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, as myself;

¹⁸ And, if he hath wronged thee at all or oweth thee aught, the same, unto me, do thou reckon:—

¹⁹ I, Paul, have written [it] with, my own, hand,—I, will repay [it] ; that I may not tell thee—that, thyself, unto me, thou still owest.

²⁰ Yea! brother, I, would, from thee, have help, in the Lord: give rest unto my tender affections in Christ.

²¹ Confident of thine obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that, even beyond what I say, thou wilt do:—

²² At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you.

²³ There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,

²⁴ Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke,—my fellow-workers.

²⁵ The favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with your spirit.