Philemon 1 (BHT-ATN)

“To: Philemon”

1 From: Paul, a prisoner because of my service to Messiah Jesus,+ and Timothy our brother.

2 To: Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker, and the assembly that meets in ˢyour home, and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier.

3 To all of+ ᵖyou grace, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

“I Appeal to You on Behalf of My Own Dear Son, Onesimus”

4 I thank my God constantly as I bring ˢyou+ before him in my prayers, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and the love you have for all the Lord’s holy people,+ 6 praying that your friendship and support and shared interest+ with respect to the faith would express themselves in action+ through knowing every blessing+ that is in us for the honor of the Messiah.+ 7 Indeed, I have had such great joy and been so encouraged because of your love, for it is the hearts+ of the Lord’s holy people+ that have been given rest through you, brother. 8 That is why, even though I could address you, as an apostle of the Messiah, very forthrightly, ordering you to do what is appropriate,+ 9 it is on the basis of love, rather, that I am appealing to you. Such being what I am, as Paul, an old man,+ and now a prisoner, too, because of my service to Messiah Jesus,+ 10 I appeal to you on behalf of my own dear son, Onesimus, “the useful.”+ I became his father in the faith+ while here in prison.+ 11 At one time he was to you of no use at all. Now, however, he is to both you and me of very valuable use. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes a part of my very self.+ 13 My desire was to keep him here with me, so that he could continue to render me the service, during this time of imprisonment for the gospel, that you yourself surely would if you were here.+ 14 I didn’t want to do anything, though, without your consent, because my hope is that you will do me this kindness not because you feel forced,+ but because it is on your own heart.+ 15 Indeed, perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a short time+: So that you could have him back forever into the very ages of the ages, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is very dear to me, and will be even more so to you,+ both on the human level as a slave+ and as one in union with the Lord.

17 If me, therefore, you consider to be a friend and partner in the work,+ please welcome Onesimus+ as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, this charge to my account. 19 I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I MYSELF WILL REPAY IT. (Don’t forget, though, what it is that you owe me: Your very life.) 20 Yes, brother, I ask you to please do me this favor in the Lord;+ give my heart rest in the Messiah. 21 It is with full confidence of your obedience that I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than what I’m asking. 22 And one more thing: Please prepare a guest room for me, because I am hoping that, in answer to ᵖyour prayers, God will graciously allow me to return and visit all+ of ᵖyou.+ 23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me because of Messiah Jesus, sends ˢyou greetings, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Messiah be with ᵖyour spirit.

+1:1Lit a prisoner of Messiah Jesus. ME (see UBSHS [Eph], 67, 93).+1:3“All of” is drawn from the plural “you” here.+1:4Unless otherwise noted (through superscript [ᵖyou] or some other means), all second person pronouns are in the second person singular.+1:5Lit your love and your faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints/holy ones. A Greek literary construction known as a “chiasmus” is most likely being employed here (see UBSHS [Phm], 118). Since in this situation it is difficult to bring the chiasmus over into English without sacrificing a significant degree of clarity, the verse has simply been translated according to its meaning here. Cf NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, TEV. Cf also Col 1:4.+1:6Translating ἡ κοινωνία ( hē koinonia) the same way as it has been translated at Php 1:5 (see translation and notes there).+1:6Lit become effective/active, or show itself effective/active. ME (see BDAG, 553, sv κοινωνία 4; cf also BDAG, 335, ἐνεργής). Cf NLT.+1:6Lit every good thing. ME. Cf ISV, NCV, NET, TEV.+1:6Cf Rm 5:5; Eph 1:3, 1:19-20; 2 Co 9:8; 1 Th 2:13; Tit 3:6.+1:7Lit bowels/inward parts. ME(I/F) (see BDAG, σπλάγχνον, 938, sv 2).+1:7Lit the holy ones/saints.+1:8Lit That is why, having much frankness/boldness/forthrightness in the Messiah to order you [to do] what is right/appropriate/your duty. ME (see ESS [Tit and Phm], 118; UBSHS [Phm], 122).+1:9Or an ambassador.+1:9Lit a prisoner of Messiah Jesus. ME (see UBSHS [Eph], 67, 93).+1:10IT. Ὀνήσιμος ( Onēsimos) means “useful” (see ANLEX, 282, sv; ESL, #3682). Paul uses the meaning of Onesimus’ name to make a play on words in the following verse, and therefore the name’s meaning has been made explicit in translation here.+1:10Lit whom I begat. ME/IT (see L-N, 36.40; UBSHS [Phm], 123). Cf Brc, NLT, NET, TEV.+1:10Cf CJB, NLT.+1:12Lit whom I am sending back to you, that is, my bowels/inward parts. ME(I/F) (see BDAG, σπλάγχνον, 938, sv 2; UBSHS [Phm], 125). Cf CJB, NLT, TEV; NEB and TNT in ESS (Tit and Phm), 125.+1:13Lit so that he could serve me in your place, or so that he could serve me on your behalf. ME (see UBSHS [Phm], 126).+1:14Lit so that your goodness/kindness might not be as according to compulsion. ME.+1:14Lit but according to willingness. ME.+1:15Lit for an hour. ME. Cf most English translations.+1:16Lit especially [dear] to me, and how much more to you. ME (see UBSHS [Phm], 128). Cf NIV.+1:16Lit in the flesh. ME (see BDAG, 916, sv σάρξ 5; UBSHS [Phm], 128-9). Cf TEV. Cf also v 11, where Onesimus is described as “useless.” The point here is that his service will now be transformed because of his relationship with the Messiah. Cf 1 Co 7:20-24; Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22-4:1; 1 Pt 2:18.+1:17Lit to be a partner, or to be a sharer, or to be one in fellowship. ME (see translation and notes at Ga 2:9, Php 1:7, and Phm 6; BSL, Phm 17, sv κοινωνός). The common interest assumed here is the gospel.+1:17Lit him. Cf NCV.+1:20Lit Yes, brother, may I have benefit from you in the Lord. ME (see L-N, 35.4; UBSHS [Phm], 130). Cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:22“All of” is drawn from the plural “you” here. Cf TEV.+1:22Lit because I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously bestowed to you. ME (see UBSHS [Phm], 132). Cf NCV, NIV, NLT.