New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—
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Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Phile'mon our beloved fellow worker
2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
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and Ap'phia our sister and Archip'pus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
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I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.
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because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,
6 I 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.
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and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ.
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
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For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
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Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,
9 yet 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—
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yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you--I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus--
10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
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I appeal to you for my child, Ones'imus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.
11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
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(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
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I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
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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I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;
14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
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but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—
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Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever,
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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
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no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
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So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
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If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
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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I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
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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Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
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Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
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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At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
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Ep'aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
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and so do Mark, Aristar'chus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.