Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, Unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,
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From Paul, who is a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy. To our dear coworker Philemon,
2 and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:
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our sister Apphia, our fellow soldier Archippus, and the church that meets in your house.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Good will and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
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[Philemon,] I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers because
5 having heard of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints,
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I hear about your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people.
6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
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As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we have in Christ.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
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Your love [for God's people] gives me a lot of joy and encouragement. You, brother, have comforted God's people.
8 Therefore, though I might be bold enough in Christ to enjoin thee to do that which is befitting,
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Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing.
9 yet for love's sake rather I beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
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However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds.
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appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in prison.
11 In time past he was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.
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Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.
12 I am sending him back. Thou therefore receive him, who is mine own heart.
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I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself.
13 I would have retained him with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel;
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I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading the Good News.
14 but without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy goodness should not be, as it were, of necessity but willingly.
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Yet, I didn't want to do anything without your consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will without feeling forced to do it.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him back for ever--
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Maybe Onesimus was gone for a while so that you could have him back forever--
16 not now as a servant, but more than a servant: as a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
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no longer as a slave but better than a slave--as a dear brother. He is especially dear to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a Christian.
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
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If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account.
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If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19 I, Paul, have written this with mine own hand: I will repay it; albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
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I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I'm writing this with my own hand. I won't even mention that you owe me your life.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my soul in the Lord.
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So, because we're brothers in the Lord, do something for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
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I am confident as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 But besides prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
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One more thing--have a guest room ready for me. I hope that, because of your prayers, God will give me back to you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
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Epaphras, who is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus like I am,
24 also Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow laborers.
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and my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send you greetings.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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The good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.