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1 <1> Greetings from Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, our brother.
To Philemon, our dear friend and worker with us. <2> Also to Apphia, our sister, to Archippus, a worker with us, and to the church[1] that meets in your home.
<3> Grace[2] and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
<4> I remember you in my prayers. And I always thank my God for you. <5> I thank God because I hear about the love you have for all of God’s holy people[3] and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. <6> I pray that the faith you share will make you understand every blessing we have in Christ. <7> My brother, you have shown love to God’s people, and your help has greatly encouraged them. What a great joy and encouragement that has been to me.
<8> There is something that you should do. And because of the authority I have in Christ, I feel free to command you to do it. <9> But I am not commanding you; I am asking you to do it out of love. I, Paul, am an old man now, and I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus. <10> I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison. <11> In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful[4] for both you and me.
<12> I am sending him back to you, but it’s as hard as losing part of myself. <13> I would like to keep him here to help me while I am still in prison for telling the Good News.[5] By helping me here, he would be representing you. <14> But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then whatever you do for me will be what you want to do, not what I forced you to do.
<15> Onesimus was separated from you for a short time. Maybe that happened so that you could have him back forever, <16> not to be just a slave, but better than a slave, to be a dear brother. That’s what he is to me. So surely, he will be even more so to you, both as your slave and as one who shares your faith in the Lord.
<17> If you accept me as your friend, then accept Onesimus back. Welcome him like you would welcome me. <18> If he has done any wrong to you or owes you anything, charge that to me. <19> I, Paul, am writing this in my own handwriting: I will pay back anything Onesimus owes. And I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life. <20> So, my brother, as a follower of the Lord please do this favor[6] for me. It would be such a great encouragement to me as your brother in Christ. <21> I write this letter knowing that you will do what I ask, and even more than I ask.
<22> Also, please prepare a room for me. I hope that God will answer your prayers and that I will be able to come and see you.
<23> Epaphras is a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus. He sends you his greetings. <24> Also Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send their greetings. They are workers together with me.
<25> The grace[7] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
[1] 2 church Literally, “assembly” or “community,” the people who have been brought together as God’s family through their common faith in Jesus Christ. The word often refers to a group of believers who meet together or who live in the same area, but it is also used to mean the worldwide community of all believers in Christ.
[2] 3 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[3] 5 holy people Literally, “saints” or “holy ones,” a term used in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus Christ as God’s special people. They are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and belong only to God.
[4] 11 useless … useful Paul here makes a play on words with the name Onesimus, which means “useful.”
[5] 13 Good News In the gospels this is usually the news about the coming of God’s kingdom (see above) or its representative Jesus Christ. In other places it is, more specifically, the news or message of God’s grace—that he has made a way through Jesus Christ for people to be made right with him and enjoy his blessings now and forever.
[6] 20 please do this favor Paul here makes another wordplay on the name Onesimus, using a verb related to it.
[7] 25 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
