A letter that was written to a faithful Christian named Philemon, apparently by the hand of Paul himself, around 60-CE.
Chapter 1
1 Paul, a
prisoner for the sake of the Anointed Jesus, and your brother Timothy, to our
beloved fellow worker PhileMon, 2
our sister ApPhia, our fellow soldier ArcHippus, and to the called
ones in your homes;
3 May
you receive loving care and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus
the Anointed One.
4 I always
give thanks to my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I keep hearing about the faith
that you have in the Lord Jesus and of the love that you have for all the Holy
Ones.
6 [And I pray that] that
we can have a share in the faith that’s in you by telling you more about the
good things that we’re doing through the Anointed One.
7 For I have felt so much joy and comfort,
our brother, over the loving things that you’ve been doing to refresh the
hearts of the holy ones.
8 And
this is the reason why I feel free in the Anointed One to lay an obligation
upon you to do something that would be very becoming…
9 Or should I say that I’m encouraging you
because of your love, seeing that I am who I am, Paul, an old man and now a
prisoner for the sake of the Anointed Jesus.
10 The
encouragement that I wish to offer is in regard to my child (someone to whom I’ve
become a father while I’ve been in prison) OneSimon.
11 For though he was once useless to you,
he has now become useful to both you and me…
12
And I’m returning this one to you, for whom I care so deeply.
13 Actually,
I would rather keep him here for myself instead of sending him to you, so he
can continue to serve my needs while I’m in the shackles that I’m wearing for
the sake of the good news.
14
However, I don’t wish to do anything without your consent, because I don’t want
any good deed that you may wish to do happen because you were forced into it…
I’d
rather it was something that you really wanted to do.
15 Perhaps
that’s the reason why he was able to break away from you for a little while…
So
that you could have him back in this age 16
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother.
He’s
especially that to me, and now much more so to you, both in the flesh and in
the Lord.
17 So if you
consider me a worthy associate, welcome him kindly as you would welcome me.
18 And if he did you any wrong or if he
owes you anything, charge it to my account.
19
I (Paul) am writing this in my own hand and telling you that I’ll pay you back…
Of course, let me remind you that you already owe me.
20 Yes, my brother; May I request some
profit from you in the Lord… please offer me this refreshment in the tender
mercies of the Anointed One!
21 Now, I’m
writing you in full confidence that you’ll go along with my request, and I’m
sure that you’ll do even more than what I’ve suggested.
22 In addition, prepare a place for me to
stay, because I hope that because of all your prayers, I’ll soon be free for
your sakes.
23 EpaPhras (my fellow captive in the Anointed One) sends you his greetings, as do 24 Mark, AristArchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
25 May the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One be upon the spirit that you show.