| Good News Translation (GNT) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy - To our friend and fellow worker Philemon,
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1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
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2 and the church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow soldier Archippus:
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2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
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3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
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3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God.
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4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
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5 For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.
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5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
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6 My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ.
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6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
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7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.
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7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
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8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done.
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8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
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9 But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.
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9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--
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10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father.
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10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
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11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
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11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
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12 I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart.
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12 I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.
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13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place.
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13 I 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.
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14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.
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14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
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15 It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time.
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15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--
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16 And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!
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16 no 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 man and as a brother in the Lord.
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17 So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me.
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17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
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18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
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18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
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19 Here, I will write this with my own hand: [I, Paul, will pay you back.] (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.)
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19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.
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20 So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!
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20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
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21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask - in fact I know that you will do even more.
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21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
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22 At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.
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22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
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23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings,
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23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
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24 and so do my co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
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24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
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25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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| Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. (The Good News Translation - The Holy Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
