Philemon 1
NLT Parallel ESV [BSB CSB ESV HCS KJV ISV NAS NET NIV NLT GRK]
New Living TranslationEnglish Standard Version
1This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker,1Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
2and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.2and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon,4I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
5because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.5because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
6And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.6and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
7Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus7For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.8Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,
9But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.9yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—
10I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.10I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
11Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.11(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.12I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
13I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.13I 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,
14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.14but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.
15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.15For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,
16He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.16no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.17So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.18If 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. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul !19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
20Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.20Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon. Paul’s Final Greetings22At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
24So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Titus 3
Top of Page
Top of Page