MODERN LITERAL VERSION

1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker,
1:2 and to Apphia the beloved and to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the congregation* in your house:
1:3 grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4 I am always giving-thanks to my God, making* mention of you in my prayers,
1:5 hearing of your love* and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy-ones;
1:6 *that the fellowship of your faith might become effective in the full knowledge of every good thing, which is in you*, to Christ Jesus.
1:7 For* we have much gratitude and comfort in your love*, because the hearts* of the holy-ones have been given-rest through you, brother.

1:8 Hence, having much boldness in Christ to command you what is proper,
1:9 yet because of love* I would rather encourage you, being such a one as Paul the elderly-man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
1:10 I am encouraging you concerning my child, whom I have fathered in my bonds, Onesimus,
1:11 who was not useful to you previously, but is useful to you now and to me whom I have sent back to you.
1:12 But you receive him, that is, my heart*;
1:13 whom I was intending to hold here with me, that* he might serve me in the bonds of the good-news on your behalf.
1:14 But I wished to do nothing without your viewpoint; that* your good deed may not be as according to necessity, but willfully.
1:15 For* perhaps because of this, he was separated from you for a season, in order that you may have him in the everlasting world;
1:16 no longer as a bondservant, but beyond a bondservant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
1:17 Therefore if you have me like a partner, receive him like myself.
1:18 But if he has wronged you in anything or owes you anything, charge this to my account.
1:19 I, Paul, write it with my own hand. I will compensate you; in order that I may not say to you, You are even owing yourself to me.
1:20 Yes, brother, let me derive benefit from you in the Lord. Give-rest to my heart* in the Lord.

1:21 I write to you, having confidence in your obedience, knowing that you will do even beyond what I am saying.
1:22 But also at the same time, prepare me a lodging. For* I am hoping that through your* prayers I will be granted to you*.

1:23 Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus, greets you;
1:24 so do my fellow workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke.

1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your* spirit. Amen.