Philemon

Greeting

Paul, a prisoner of Mĕs­si­ah Yĕshūa̒, and Timothy our bro­ther, to Philemon our beloved bro­ther and fellow worker, 2and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assem­bly in your house. 3Loving-kind­ness to you and shalōm from the Al­mĭgh­ty, our Fă­ther and ’Adŏ­nai̱ Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕs­si­ah.

Philemon’s Love and Faithfulness

4I thank my Al­mĭgh­ty always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5because I hear of your love, and of the faithfulness which you have toward ’Adŏ­nai̱ Yĕshūa̒, and toward all the holy ones, 6which is how the fellowship of your faithfulness may become effec­tive in the complete knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Mĕs­si­ah’s sake, 7because I have much joy and comfort in your love, be­cause the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

8Therefore, though I have much boldness in Mĕs­si­ah to com­mand you to do what is proper, 9yet for love’s sake I rather appeal—being such a one as Paul, the elderly, and now also a prisoner of Mĕs­si­ah Yĕshūa̒—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10I appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten in my im­pri­son­ment, Onesimus, 11who for­merly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12I have sent him back to you in person, that is, as if sending my own heart, 13whom I wanted to keep with me, that in your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the good news, 14but without your consent I did not want to do anything, that your goodness should not be as by compulsion, but of your own free will.

15Because perhaps he was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever, 16no 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 Yăhwēh.

17If then you regard me a partner, receive him as you would me. 18But if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

19I, Paul, write with my own hand, I will repay (wherein I should say to you that you owe to me even your own self). 20Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in Yăhwēh. Refresh my heart in Mĕs­si­ah.

21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than what I say.

22And at the same time also prepare me lodging, because I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

23Epaphras, my fellow pri­so­ner in Mĕs­si­ah Yĕshūa̒, greets you, 24and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

25The loving kindness of ’Adŏ­nai̱ Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕs­si­ah be with your spirit.