1 From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy—
To our friend and fellow worker Philemon, 2 and the church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow soldier Archippus:
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God. 5 For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ. 7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.
A Request for Onesimus
8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. 9 But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake. 10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. 11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place. 14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.
15 It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. 16 And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!
17 So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19 Here, I will write this with my own hand: I, Paul, will pay you back. (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.) 20 So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!
21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask—in fact I know that you will do even more. 22 At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, 24 and so do my co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Sveicieni
1 Pāvils, Jēzus Kristus gūsteknis, un mūsu brālis Timotejs Filemonam, mūsu mīļotajam brālim un darbabiedram, 2 mūsu māsai Apfijai un mūsu cīņas biedram Arhipam un draudzei, kas pulcējas tavā namā, – 3 žēlastība jums un miers no mūsu Dieva Tēva un Kunga Jēzus Kristus!
Filemona mīlestība un ticība
4 Es pateicos mūsu Dievam, vienmēr tevi pieminēdams savās lūgšanās, 5 dzirdot par tavu mīlestību un ticību, kas tev ir uz Kristu Jēzu un visiem svētajiem, 6 lai tava ticība, kas tev ar mums ir kopīga, kļūst darbīga apzināt visu labo, kas mūs tuvina Kristum. 7 Man bija liels prieks un mierinājums par tavu mīlestību, jo caur tevi, brāli, svēto sirdis guva atspirdzinājumu.
Pāvila lūgums par Onēsimu
8 Lai gan Kristū es pilnīgi varētu iedrošināties tev pavēlēt darīt to, kas tev pienākas, 9 tomēr mīlestības dēļ es tevi labāk mudinu. Tad nu es, vecais vīrs Pāvils, bet tagad vēl Kristus Jēzus cietumnieks, 10 tevi lūdzu par Onēsimu, manu dēlu, kam, būdams važās, esmu kļuvis par tēvu. 11 Kādreiz viņš tev bija nederīgs, bet tagad gan man, gan tev noderīgs. 12 Viņu es tev nosūtu atpakaļ pie tevis, pieņem viņu kā manu sirdi. 13 Es viņu gribēju paturēt pie sevis, lai viņš tavā vietā kalpotu man, kas esmu važās evaņģēlija dēļ, 14 bet bez tavas piekrišanas es negribēju neko iesākt, jo tev nav jābūt labam piespiedu kārtā, bet brīvi. 15 Varbūt tādēļ viņš uz īsu brīdi bija šķirts no tevis, lai tu viņu iegūtu uz mūžiem, 16 ne vairs kā vergu, bet vairāk kā vergu – kā mīļotu brāli. Tāds viņš tiešām ir man, bet daudzreiz vairāk tev gan miesīgi, gan Kungā. 17 Ja tu ar mani esi ticības sadraudzībā, tad arī viņu pieņem tāpat kā mani. 18 Ja tev viņa dēļ radušies zaudējumi vai viņš tev ir ko parādā, pierēķini to man. 19 Es, Pāvils, rakstu pats ar savu roku: es samaksāšu, – lai neteiktu tev, ka esi man parādā sevi pašu. 20 Jā, brāl, vai gan man nevarētu būt kāds labums no tevis mūsu Kungā? Remdini manu sirdi Kristū! 21 Es tev rakstu, paļaudamies uz tavu paklausību, zinādams, ka tu darīsi vairāk, nekā es saku. 22 Reizē sagatavojies uzņemt arī mani – ceru, ka jūsu lūgšanu dēļ es tikšu jums atdāvināts.
Sveicieni
23 Tevi sveicina Epafrs, mans cietuma biedrs Kristū Jēzū, 24 un mani darbabiedri Marks, Aristarhs, Dēma un Lūka. 25 Kunga Jēzus Kristus žēlastība lai ir ar jūsu garu!
