The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

• Who Wrote: The Apostle Paul
• Where Written: Rome
• When Written: c. 60–61 C.E.

CHAPTER 1

Greetings

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our[1] brother,

To Philemon[2] our beloved fellow worker, ² and Apphia our[3] sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the congregation[4] in your house:

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

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones, ⁶ and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective[5] through the accurate knowledge[6] of every good thing that is in you[7] for the sake of Christ. ⁷ For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts[8] of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, though I have much 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, an aged man,[9] and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus– ¹⁰ I appeal to you for my child Onesimus,[10] whom I have begotten[11] in my prison bonds, ¹¹ who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back to you, 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 prison bonds 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 necessity[12] but of your own free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps he was therefore parted from you for a while, that you would have him 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.

The Guarantee and the Reminder

¹⁷ If then you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account; ¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it, to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

The Guest Room

²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than what I say. ²² At the same time, prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

Final Greetings

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. ²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[13]

[1] Lit the

[2] Gr Philemoni, meaning loving

[3] Lit the

[4] Gr ekklesia (“assembly;” “congregation, i.e., of Christians”)

[5] Lit might become active or operative within

[6] Epignosis is a strengthened or intensified form of gnosis (epi, meaning “additional”), meaning, “true,” “real,” “full,” “complete” or “accurate,” depending upon the context. Paul and Peter alone use epignosis.

[7] “In you” has strong textual support (P⁶¹ א G P 33 1739Byz it^g, vg syr^p, h cop^sa, bo arm al), while “in us” has weaker textual support (A C D K Ψ 81 614 it^d syr^hmg al).

[8] Lit the bowels or inward parts

[9] Or an ambassador

[10] Onesimus means useful

[11] That is, became a father

[12] Or compulsion

[13] One early MS adds Amen