| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker-- | 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, |
| 2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier--and to the church that meets in your home: | 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home. |
| 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. | 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, | 4I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, |
| 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. | 5because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. |
| 6I 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. | 6I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. |
| 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. | 7For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. |
| 8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, | 8For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, |
| 9yet 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-- | 9I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, |
| 10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. | 10appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I fathered him while I was in chains. |
| 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. | 11Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. |
| 12I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you. | 12I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. |
| 13I 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. | 13I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. |
| 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. | 14But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. |
| 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever-- | 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, |
| 16no 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. | 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave--as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. |
| 17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. | 17So if you consider me a partner, accept him as you would me. |
| 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. | 18And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. |
| 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self. | 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it--not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self. |
| 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. | 20Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. |
| 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. | 21Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. |
| 22And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. | 22But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. |
| 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. | 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, and so do |
| 24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. | 24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers. |
| 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. | 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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