Philemon

Philemon

Greeting

From Paul,

a prisoner of the Anointed One, Jesus,

and Timothy our brother—

To Philemon, our dear friend and co-worker,

and to Apphia our sister,

Archippus our fellow soldier,

and to the gathering that meets in your house:

Grace and peace to you

from God our Father and the Master, Jesus the Anointed One.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I always thank my God

when I remember you in my prayers,

because I hear of your love and trust

toward the Master, Jesus, and toward all the set-apart ones.

I pray that the partnership of your trust

may become effective

as you deepen your understanding

of every good thing we share in the Anointed One.

For I have great joy and encouragement from your love,

because the hearts of the set-apart ones

have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Therefore, though I have boldness in the Anointed One

to command you to do what is right,

I prefer to appeal to you

on the basis of love.

It is I, Paul—an old man,

and now also a prisoner for the Anointed One, Jesus—

who am making this appeal for Onesimus,

whose spiritual father I became while in chains.

Once he was useless to you,

but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

I am sending him back to you—

he is my very heart.

I would have liked to keep him with me,

so that he could serve me in your place

while I am in chains for the good news.

But I did not want to do anything without your consent,

so that your kindness would not be by force

but freely given.

A New Relationship

Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a time—

so that you might have him back forever—

no longer as a servant,

but more than a servant—

a beloved brother,

especially to me,

but now even more so to you,

both in the flesh and in the Master.

So if you consider me your partner,

receive him as you would receive me.

If he has wronged you in any way

or owes you anything,

charge it to my account.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand:

I will repay it—

not to mention that you owe me your very self.

Yes, brother—

let me benefit from you in the Master.

Refresh my heart in the Anointed One.

Confidence in Philemon

I write to you confident of your obedience,

knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

And one more thing:

prepare a guest room for me,

for I hope that through your prayers

I will be graciously given back to you.

Final Greetings

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in the Anointed One, Jesus,

sends you greetings.

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

The grace of the Master, Jesus the Anointed One,

be with your spirit.