Philemon 1

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,	1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
2 and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.	2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.	3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,	4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,
5 (for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)	5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints,
6 so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.	6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ.
7 For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.	7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8 Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,	8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,
9 but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.	9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you--I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus--
10 I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.	10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.
11 In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.	11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
12 So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.	12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
13 I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.	13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.	14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.
15 So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,	15 Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever,
16 no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much so more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!	16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.	17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.	18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.	19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.
20 So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.	20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.	21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.	22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be granted to you.
23 Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,	23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.	24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.	25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.