Greetings from Paul and Timothy (Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
1 UST { I,} Paul, am currently in prison for serving the Messiah, Jesus. I am here with Timothy, our fellow believer.{ I am writing this letter} to{ you,} Philemon. You also serve the Messiah, and we love you. BSB BSB: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
2 UST { I also write} to Apphia, our fellow believer, and to Archippus, who is{ like} a soldier{ in the way he serves the Messiah} with us.{ I also write} to the group of believers that meets in your house. BSB BSB: to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
3 UST { I pray that} God our Father and our Lord Jesus the Messiah will continue to be kind to you all and make you peaceful. BSB BSB: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Faith and Love 4 UST When I pray, I always thank my God for you,{ Philemon,} BSB BSB: I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
5 UST because{ people tell me} how much you trust in the Lord Jesus and how much you love him and all of God’ s people. BSB BSB: because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
6 UST I also pray that as you trust in the Messiah, just as we trust in him, you will understand even more all the good things the Messiah has given to us for serving him. BSB BSB: I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
7 UST My dear friend, you have greatly encouraged me and have caused me to rejoice a lot. For you have been encouraging God’ s people by how much you love them. BSB BSB: I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus 8 UST So{ because you love God’ s people,} and because{ I am an apostle} of the Messiah, I am completely confident that the Messiah would allow me to command you to do what you should do. BSB BSB: So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
9 UST But{ instead of commanding you,}{ because we love each other,} I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner because I serve the Messiah, Jesus, only request{ that you do this.} BSB BSB: I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
10 UST I am asking you do something for Onesimus. He has become like a son to me{ since I told him about the Messiah here} in prison. BSB BSB: I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
11 UST He was useless to you in the past, but now he is useful both to you and to me! BSB BSB: Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 UST Although he is very dear to me, I am sending him back to you. BSB BSB: I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
13 UST I wanted to keep him here with me in order that he might serve me in your place, especially while I am still in prison for preaching the good news{ about the Messiah.} BSB BSB: I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
14 UST However,{ I am sending him back to you} because you did not tell me I could keep him here. I want you to help me{ because you want to help me,} and not because I have forced you to help me. BSB BSB: But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
17 UST So if you consider me to be your companion{ in doing the work God has given us,} then welcome Onesimus into your home in the same way you would welcome me. BSB BSB: So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 UST But if he has taken anything from you, or if he is in debt to you for anything, I will repay you. BSB BSB: But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
19 UST I, Paul, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you whatever he owes you. I am certain that I do not have to remind you that you owe me{ even more than Onesimus might owe you,}{ because God saved} your life{ when I told you about the Messiah.} BSB BSB: I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
20 UST Yes, my fellow believer,{ I am saying what you think I am saying}. I want{ you to do this for me} because of what the Lord{ did for you}. Give me another reason to be glad that we are both joined to the Messiah. BSB BSB: Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 UST As I write{ this letter} to you, I am sure that you will do what I am asking you to do. In fact, I know that you will do even more than what I am asking you to do. BSB BSB: Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22 UST As{ you do what I am asking you to do}, I also ask you to prepare to receive me into your home. Because all of you have been praying for me, I confidently expect that{ God will allow me to leave prison} and to come to you all. BSB BSB: In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Additional Greetings 23 UST Epaphras, who is{ suffering} with me in prison{ for serving} Messiah Jesus, says hello to you. BSB BSB: Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
24 UST Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who are my partners here,{ also say hello to you.} BSB BSB: as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 UST { I pray} that our Lord Jesus the Messiah will continue to be kind to you. Amen. BSB BSB: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.