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.
1Pablo, prisionero de Cristo Jesús, y el hermano Timoteo,
a ti, querido Filemón, compañero de trabajo, 2a la hermana Apia, a Arquipo nuestro compañero de lucha y a la iglesia que se reúne en tu casa:
3Que Dios nuestro Padre y el Señor Jesucristo les concedan gracia y paz.
Acción de gracias y petición
4Siempre doy gracias a mi Dios al recordarte en mis oraciones, 5porque tengo noticias de tu amor por el Señor Jesús y de tu fidelidad hacia todos los creyentes. 6Pido a Dios que el compañerismo que brota de tu fe sea eficaz para la causa de Cristo mediante el reconocimiento de todo lo bueno que compartimos. 7Hermano, tu amor me ha alegrado y animado mucho porque has reconfortado el corazón de los creyentes.
Intercesión de Pablo por Onésimo
8Por eso, aunque en Cristo tengo la franqueza suficiente para ordenarte lo que debes hacer, 9prefiero rogártelo en nombre del amor. Yo, Pablo, ya anciano y ahora, además, prisionero de Cristo Jesús, 10te suplico por mi hijo Onésimo,1:10 Onésimo significa útil. quien llegó a ser hijo mío mientras yo estaba preso. 11En otro tiempo te era inútil, pero ahora nos es útil tanto a ti como a mí.
12Te lo envío de vuelta y con él va mi propio corazón. 13Yo hubiera querido retenerlo para que me sirviera en tu lugar mientras estoy preso por causa del evangelio. 14Sin embargo, no he querido hacer nada sin tu consentimiento, para que tu favor no sea por obligación, sino espontáneo. 15Tal vez por eso Onésimo se alejó de ti por algún tiempo, para que ahora lo recibas para siempre, 16ya no como a esclavo, sino como algo mejor: como a un hermano querido, muy especial para mí, pero mucho más para ti, como persona y como hermano en el Señor.
17De modo que, si me tienes por compañero, recíbelo como a mí mismo. 18Si te ha perjudicado o te debe algo, cárgalo a mi cuenta. 19Yo, Pablo, lo escribo de mi puño y letra: te lo pagaré; por no decirte que tú mismo me debes lo que eres. 20Sí, hermano, ¡que reciba yo de ti algún beneficio en el Señor! Reconforta mi corazón en Cristo. 21Te escribo confiado en tu obediencia, seguro de que harás aún más de lo que te pido.
22Además de eso, prepárame alojamiento porque espero que Dios les conceda el tenerme otra vez con ustedes en respuesta a sus oraciones.
23Te mandan saludos Epafras, mi compañero de cárcel en Cristo Jesús, 24y también Marcos, Aristarco, Demas y Lucas, mis compañeros de trabajo.
25Que la gracia del Señor Jesucristo sea con su espíritu.
