Philemon 1 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Greetings from Paul

Phm 1:1This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker,

Phm 1:2

Phm 1:2and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your[fn] house.

Phm 1:3

Phm 1:3May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

Phm 1:4

Phm 1:4I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon,

Phm 1:5

Phm 1:5because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.

Phm 1:6

Phm 1:6And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.

Phm 1:7

Phm 1:7Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Phm 1:8

Phm 1:8That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.

Phm 1:9

Phm 1:9But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.[fn]

Phm 1:10

Phm 1:10I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.

Phm 1:11

Phm 1:11Onesimus[fn] hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.

Phm 1:12

Phm 1:12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

Phm 1:13

Phm 1:13I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.

Phm 1:14

Phm 1:14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

Phm 1:15

Phm 1:15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.

Phm 1:16

Phm 1:16He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

Phm 1:17

Phm 1:17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

Phm 1:18

Phm 1:18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.

Phm 1:19

Phm 1:19I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WONT MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!

Phm 1:20

Phm 1:20Yes, my brother, please do me this favor[fn] for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

Phm 1:21

Phm 1:21I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!

Phm 1:22

Phm 1:22One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.

Paul’s Final Greetings

Phm 1:23

Phm 1:23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.

Phm 1:24

Phm 1:24So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.

Phm 1:25

Phm 1:25May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NLT Footnotes

(1:2)

Throughout this letter, you and your are singular except in verses 3, 22, and 25.

(1:9)

Or a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

(1:11)

Onesimus means “useful.”

(1:20)

Greek onaimen, a play on the name Onesimus.

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For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

Philemon Chapter 1 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

Philemon 1 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

NLT Footnotes

Philemon Chapter 1 — Additional Translations:

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