| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, | 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker-- |
| 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. | 2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier--and to the church that meets in your home: |
| 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! | 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, | 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, |
| 5because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. | 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. |
| 6I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ. | 6I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. |
| 7I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. | 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. |
| 8So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, | 8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, |
| 9I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love--I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus-- | 9yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus-- |
| 10I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, | 10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. |
| 11who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. | 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. |
| 12I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. | 12I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you. |
| 13I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. | 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. |
| 14However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. | 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. |
| 15For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, | 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever-- |
| 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. | 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. |
| 17Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. | 17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. |
| 18Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. | 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. |
| 19I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. | 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self. |
| 20Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. | 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. |
| 21Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. | 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. |
| 22At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you. | 22And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. |
| 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. | 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. |
| 24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. | 24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. |
| 25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. | 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
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