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.
1 Pāvils, Kristus Jēzus gūsteknis, un brālis Timotejs mīļajam Filemonam, mūsu darba biedram, 2 māsai Apfijai un mūsu cīņas biedram Arhipam, un draudzei, kas tavā namā; 3 lai jums ir žēlastība un miers no Dieva, mūsu Tēva, un Kunga Jēzus Kristus. 4 Es vienmēr pateicos savam Dievam, tevi atcerēdamies savās lūgšanās, 5 dzirdēdams par tavu mīlestību un ticību, kas tev ir uz Kungu Jēzu un uz visiem svētajiem, 6 lai tavas ticības sadraudzība kļūtu darbīga visa laba atziņā, kas mūs tuvina Kristum. 7 Man bija daudz prieka un apmierinājuma par tavu mīlestību, ka tu, brāli, esi atspirdzinājis svēto sirdis! 8 Tādēļ, kaut gan man Kristū ir pilnas tiesības pavēlēt tev to, kas klājas, 9 es labāk mīlestībā tevi lūdzu, tāds, kāds esmu, sirmais Pāvils, bet tagad arī Kristus Jēzus gūsteknis, - 10 lūdzu tevi par savu bērnu Onēzimu, ko esmu dzemdinājis, būdams važās, 11 to, kas kādreiz bija tev nederīgs, bet tagad kā tev, tā man ir derīgs; 12 viņu, tas ir, savu paša sirdi, es tev sūtu atpakaļ. 13 Es viņu gribēju paturēt pie sevis, lai viņš tavā vietā man kalpotu evaņģēlija važās; 14 bet bez tavas ziņas es neko negribēju darīt, lai tavs labais darbs parādītos ne piespiesti, bet brīvprātīgi. 15 Varbūt viņš tādēļ no tevis uz brīdi bija atšķirts, lai tu viņu paturētu mūžībai, 16 ne vairs kā vergu, bet daudz vairāk kā mīļotu brāli, īpaši man, bet cik daudz vairāk vēl tev gan pēc miesas, gan iekš Tā Kunga! 17 Ja nu tu ar mani turi sadraudzību, tad pieņem viņu tā kā mani! 18 Bet, ja viņš kaut kādā veidā noziedzies pret tevi vai palicis parādā, tad to pieskaiti man. 19 Es, Pāvils, to rakstu tev ar savu roku, es atlīdzināšu, lai neteiktu tev, ka tu man arī pats sevi esi parādā. 20 Patiesi, brāli, es gribētu no tevis iegūt kādu labumu Tam Kungam par godu, atspirdzini manu sirdi Kristū. 21 Es tev rakstu, uzticēdamies tev, ka paklausīsi, un zinādams, ka tu darīsi vairāk par to, ko es saku. 22 Bet turklāt sataisies arī mani uzņemt kā viesi, jo es ceru, ka jūsu lūgšanu dēļ es tikšu jums atdāvināts. 23 Tevi sveicina Epafra, mans cietuma biedrs Kristū Jēzū, 24 Marks, Aristarhs, Dēma, Lūka, mani darba biedri. 25 Lai Kunga Jēzus Kristus žēlastība ir ar jūsu garu!
