Philemon 1 – NIRV & NSP

New International Reader’s Version

Philemon 1:1-25

1I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. Our brother Timothy joins me in writing.

Philemon, we are sending you this letter. You are our dear friend. You work together with us. 2We are also sending it to our sister Apphia and to Archippus. He is a soldier of Christ together with us. And we are sending it to the church that meets in your home.

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

Paul Prays and Gives Thanks

4I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers. 5That’s because I hear about your love for all God’s people. I also hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that what we share by believing will help you understand even more. Then you will completely understand every good thing we share by believing in Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy. It has encouraged me. My brother, you have renewed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul Makes an Appeal for Onesimus

8Because of the authority Christ has given me, I could be bold. I could order you to do what you should do anyway. 9But we love each other. And I would rather appeal to you on the basis of that love. I, Paul, am an old man. I am now also a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. 10I am an old man, and I’m in prison. This is how I make my appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held in chains. 11Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me.

12I’m sending Onesimus back to you. All my love for him goes with him. 13I’m being held in chains because of the good news. So I would have liked to keep Onesimus with me. And he could take your place in helping me. 14But I didn’t want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favor you do must be done because you want to do it, not because you have to. 15Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back forever. 16You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even more dear to you. He is dear to you not only as another human being. He is also dear to you as a brother in the Lord.

17Do you think of me as a believer who works together with you? Then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 18Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Then charge it to me. 19I’ll pay it back. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life. 20My brother, we both belong to the Lord. So I wish I could receive some benefit from you. Renew my heart. We know that Christ is the one who really renews it. 21I’m sure you will obey. So I’m writing to you. I know you will do even more than I ask.

22There is one more thing. Have a guest room ready for me. I hope I can return to all of you in answer to your prayers.

23Epaphras sends you greetings. Together with me, he is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus.

24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke work together with me. They also send you greetings.

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

New Serbian Translation

Филимону 1:1-25

1Од Павла, сужња ради Христа Исуса, и од брата Тимотеја, нашем сараднику, вољеном Филимону, 2сестри Апфији, и нашем саборцу Архипу, као и целој цркви која се окупља у твоме дому.

3Милост вам и мир од Бога, Оца нашега, и Господа Исуса Христа.

4Увек захваљујем своме Богу кад те спомињем у својим молитвама. 5Слушам, наиме, о твојој љубави коју имаш према целом Божијем народу и о твојој вери у Господа Исуса. 6Молим се да твоје учешће у заједничкој вери постане делотворно кроз дубље разумевање сваког благослова који имамо у нашем заједништву с Христом. 7Имао сам, наиме, много радости и утехе од твоје љубави, брате, што си окрепио срца светих.

Павлова молба за Онисима

8Стога, имам пуну слободу у Христу да ти заповедим шта си дужан да чиниш. 9Али зато што те волим радије ћу те молити, такав какав сам, старац Павле, а сада и сужањ ради Христа. 10Молим те за моје дете Онисима, коме сам постао духовни отац у тамновању. 11Он ти је некад био некористан, али сада је и теби и мени постао користан1,11 Име Онисим значи користан. Павле је употребио игру речи да нагласи како је одбегли роб постао користан кад је прихватио Христа.. 12Шаљем ти га натраг, њега, срце моје. 13Хтео сам да га задржим код себе да ми уместо тебе послужи за време мог тамновања ради Радосне вести. 14Ипак, нисам ништа хтео да чиним без твога пристанка, да твоје добро дело не буде од морања, него од добре воље. 15Јер можда је баш зато и био одвојен од тебе на кратко, да би га добио заувек, 16али не више као роба, него много више од роба, као вољеног брата. Он је и мени нарочито драг, али је теби дражи, и као човек и као брат у Господу.

17Према томе, ако ме сматраш за друга, прихвати га као мене самог. 18Ако те је оштетио или ти нешто дугује, то стави на мој рачун. 19Ја, Павле, лично потписујем: ја ћу платити; да не помињем да и себе самог дугујеш мени. 20Да, брате, хајде да од тебе имам какве користи ради Господа; окрепи моје срце у Христу.

21Ово сам ти написао уздајући се у твоју послушност, јер знам да ћеш учинити и више од онога што тражим.

22Уједно ми припреми гостинску собу, јер се надам да ћу вам посредством ваших молитава бити дарован.

23Поздравља те Епафрас који је са мном сужањ ради Христа Исуса, 24и моји сарадници Марко, Аристарх, Димас и Лука.

25Милост Господа нашег Исуса Христа са вашим духом.