Parallel Bible results for "philemon 1"

Philemon 1

The Message Bible MSG

1 I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy. I write this letter to you, Philemon, my good friend and companion in this work -

2 also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house.

3 God's best to you! Christ's blessings on you!

4 Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, "Oh, thank you, God!"

5 I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other Christians.

6 And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it.

7 Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.

8 In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ's ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn't hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary,

9 but I'd rather make it a personal request.

10 While here in jail, I've fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter - Onesimus!

11 He was useless to you before; now he's useful to both of us.

12 I'm sending him back to you, but it feels like I'm cutting off my right arm in doing so.

13 I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I'm in jail for the Message.

14 But I didn't want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn't willingly agreed to.

15 Maybe it's all for the best that you lost him for a while. You're getting him back now for good -

16 and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That's what he was to me - he'll be even more than that to you.

17 So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me.

18 If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account.

19 This is my personal signature - Paul - and I stand behind it. (I don't need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?)

20 Do me this big favor, friend. You'll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.

21 I know you well enough to know you will. You'll probably go far beyond what I've written.

22 And by the way, get a room ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again.

23 Epaphras, my cellmate in the cause of Christ, says hello.

24 Also my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.

25 All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ!

New American Standard Bible NAS

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.

7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you-since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus -

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

16 no 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 the Lord .

17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well ).

20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord ; refresh my heart in Christ.

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

22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

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