Philemon 1

1 Paul [a Roman apostle], a prisoner [captive, in bonds] of Christ Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed], and Timothy [dear to God, a fellow believer] our brother [a male sibling, a fellow Christian], To Philemon [a Christian who owned a slave] our beloved [cherished, dearly loved] fellow worker [co-laborer, sharing the same spiritual task], word study 2 to Apphia [our beloved sister, dear one] our sister, to Archippus [companion in faith] our fellow soldier, and to the church [assembly, gathering of believers] that meets [gathered, convened] at your [thy, your own] house [home, dwelling place]: word study 3 Grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] and peace [harmony, inner tranquility] to you [as individuals, personally] from God [the Father, our Creator] our Father [the male parent, source of life] and the Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus [God is salvation] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. word study 4 I always [at all times, constantly] thank [express gratitude to, praise] my God [the one true deity], remembering [making mention of, thinking about] you [specifically, personally] in my prayers [to God, supplications], word study 5 because I hear [and understand] about your faith [trust, confidence] in the Lord [master] Jesus [God is salvation] and your love [agape, unconditional affection] for all [every, complete] the saints [holy, set apart ones]. word study 6 I pray that your partnership [fellowship] in the faith [trust, confidence in God] may become [active, powerful] effective [producing results, fruitful] as you fully acknowledge [recognize, understand] every [all, each] good [beneficial, excellent] thing that is [belongs to, shared with] ours [ours together, shared among believers] in Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus]. word study 7 I take great joy [much happiness, deep satisfaction] and encouragement [comfort, solace] in your love [unconditional affection, divine charity], because you, brother [fellow Christian, dear friend], have refreshed [given rest, rejuvenated] the hearts [innermost being, spiritual core] of the saints [holy ones, set apart believers]. word study 8 So although [for this reason, therefore] in Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus] I am bold enough [having much boldness, confident] to order [command, give direction] you to do what is proper [fitting, befitting, convenient], word study 9 I prefer to appeal [for love’s sake] on the basis of love [unconditional affection, charity]. For I, Paul [the aged apostle], am now [at this present time] aged [an old man, advanced in years], and a prisoner [captive, in bonds] of Christ Jesus [the anointed Messiah, God’s salvation] as well [also, in addition to being aged]. word study 10 I appeal [beseech, plead with] to you for my child [son, whom I have begotten] Onesimus, whose father [spiritual father, one who has begotten in the faith] I became while I was in chains [bonds, imprisonment, a state of confinement]. word study 11 Formerly [in time past, once] he was [considered] useless [unprofitable, of no benefit] to you, but now [at this present time] he has become [proven to be] useful [helpful, profitable] both to you and to me [to us, for our benefit]. word study 12 I am sending back to you him [my very own, dear to me] who is my very heart [my innermost being, my deepest affection]. word study 13 I [the speaker] would have liked [desired, wished] to keep [hold back, retain] him with me, so that on your [as a representative] behalf [in your place, for your sake] he could [be able to, have the opportunity to] minister [serve, attend to my needs] to me in my chains [bonds or shackles] for the gospel [the good news of salvation]. word study 14 But I did not want to do anything without [without your permission, apart from your mind] your consent [approval, agreement], so that your goodness [kindness, benevolence] will not be out of compulsion [necessity, obligation], but by your own [voluntary, willing] free will [choice, decision]. word study 15 For perhaps [possibly, it may be] this is why he was separated [parted, left] from you for a while [a season, a short time], so that you might have him back [receive him, keep him] for good [forever, eternally]— word study 16 no longer [not anymore, no more] as a slave [servant, bondservant], but better [above, more than] than a slave [servant], as a beloved [dearly loved, cherished] brother [fellow believer, sibling in Christ]. He is especially [mostly, in a special way] beloved [loved, cherished] to me [to myself, personally], but even more so [how much more, to a greater extent] to you [to yourselves, personally], both in person [in the flesh, physically] and in the Lord [in Christ, spiritually]. word study 17 So if [as is the case, therefore] you consider me a partner [fellow worker, participant], receive him [Onesimus, as a brother] as you would receive me [as myself, with the same love and respect]. word study 18 But if he has wronged [hurt or acted unjustly towards] you in any way [or manner] or owes [is in debt to] you anything [something], charge [attribute or credit] it to my account [as if I were responsible]. word study 19 I, Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul], write this with my own [literal, physical] hand. I will repay it [in full, to settle the account]—not to mention [lest I remind you] that you owe me [are indebted to me] your very [own, entire] self [your life, your being]. word study 20 Yes [verily, indeed], brother [fellow Christian, male sibling], let me have some benefit [joy, profit] from you in the Lord [God, Master, Christ]. Refresh [give rest, rejuvenate] my heart [inner being, spirit] in Christ [the Anointed One, our Savior]. word study 21 Confident [trusting, having faith] of your obedience [submission to God’s commands], I write [record, express my thoughts] to you, knowing [being aware, perceiving] that you will do [accomplish, fulfill] even more [beyond] than I ask [request]. word study 22 In the meantime [at the same time, together], prepare [make ready, get everything set] a guest room [lodging, place of hospitality] for me [for my use, on my behalf], because [for, since] I hope [expect, trust] that through [because of, by means of] your prayers [petition to God] I will be restored [given, granted] to you [back to your presence, into your care]. word study 23 Epaphras [my brother-prisoner, fellow servant], my fellow prisoner [captive, one who is bound] in Christ Jesus [the Messiah, the anointed one], sends you [salute, pay respects to] greetings [his love, a hello], word study 24 as do Mark [a Christian companion], Aristarchus [a Macedonian fellow traveler], Demas [a devoted coworker], and Luke [the Gospel writer], my fellow workers [co-laborers, sharing the burden of ministry]. word study 25 The [divine, gracious] grace [unmerited favor, loving-kindness] of the Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus [God is salvation] Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] be with [accompany, remain with] your [inner, spiritual] spirit [breath, vital principle]. word study