1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:
3Grace and peace to you1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular. from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,1:10 Onesimus means useful. who became my son while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
11 a nny 9, 23; Bef 3:1 b 2Ko 1:1 c Baf 2:25Pawulo, omusibe wa Kristo Yesu, n’owooluganda Timoseewo, tuwandiikira ggwe Firemooni, mukozi munnaffe omwagalwa, 22 a Bak 4:17 b Baf 2:25 c Bar 16:5ne Apofiya mwannyinaffe, ne Alukipo mulwanyi munnaffe, n’Ekkanisa yonna ekuŋŋaanira mu nnyumba yo.
3Ekisa n’emirembe ebiva eri Katonda Kitaffe ne Mukama waffe Yesu Kristo bibeerenga nammwe.
Okusaba n’okwebaza
44 Bar 1:8Bulijjo bwe mba nga nkusabira neebaza Katonda, 55 Bef 1:15; Bak 1:4kubanga buli kiseera mpulira nga bw’olina okwagala n’okukkiriza eri Mukama waffe Yesu n’eri abatukuvu bonna. 6Nsaba nti nga bw’ogenda otegeeza abantu okukkiriza kwo, nabo kubanyweze mu bulamu bwabwe, nga bategeerera ddala ebirungi byonna ebiri mu ffe ku bwa Kristo. 77 a 2Ko 7:4, 13 b nny 20Nsanyuka nnyo era ne nziramu amaanyi olw’okwagala kwo, kubanga emitima gy’abatukuvu giziddwa buggya ku lulwo owooluganda.
Pawulo yeegayiririra Onesimo
8Noolwekyo newaakubadde era, nga nnina obuvumu mu Kristo, nga nandisobodde okukulagira okukola ekyo ky’osaanira okukola, 99 nny 1, 23naye okwagala kwange gy’oli kumpaliriza okukusaba obusabi, nze, Pawulo, kaakano akaddiye, era ali mu kkomera olwa Kristo Yesu; 1010 a 1Ko 4:15 b Bak 4:9nkwegayirira ku bikwata ku mwana wange Onesimo gwe nayamba okukkiriza Mukama waffe nga ndi mu njegere, mu busibe, 11Onesimo oyo, gye buvuddeko ataali wa mugaso gy’oli, naye kaakano nga wa mugaso nnyo gye tuli ffembi, 12gwe naaweereza gy’oli nga n’omutima gwange gujjirako, 13oyo gwe nandyagadde okwesigaliza, ampeereze nga ndi mu busibe olw’enjiri, mu kifo kyo mwe wandibadde onnyambira, 1414 2Ko 9:7; 1Pe 5:2naye ne saagala kukikola nga tonzikirizza. Saagala okole eky’ekisa olwokubanga oteekwa, wabula kikole lwa kweyagalira. 15Kiyinzika okuba nga Onesimo yakwawukanako okumala akaseera, oluvannyuma alyoke abeere naawe ebbanga lyonna, 1616 Mat 23:8; 1Ti 6:2nga takyali muddu buddu, naye ng’asingako awo, ng’afuuse owooluganda omwagalwa ennyo, na ddala gye ndi. Kaakano ajja kubeera wa mugaso nnyo gy’oli mu mubiri ne mu Mukama waffe.
1717 2Ko 8:23Obanga ddala ndi munno, mwanirize mu ngeri y’emu nga bwe wandinnyanirizza singa nze mbadde nzize. 18Obanga waliwo ekintu ekibi kye yakukola, oba ekintu ky’omubanja, kimbalirweko. 19Kino nkiwandiika mu mukono gwange nze, Pawulo, nti ndikusasula. Sijja kukugamba nti olina ebbanja lyange. 2020 nny 7Munnange owooluganda, nkolera ekikolwa kino ekiraga okwagala, omutima gwange guddemu amaanyi mu Kristo. 2121 2Ko 2:3Nkuwandiikidde ebbaluwa eno nga neesigira ddala nga kye nkusaba ojja kukikola n’okusingawo! 2222 a Baf 1:25; 2:24 b 2Ko 1:11Nninayo n’ekirala kye nkusaba; nkusaba ontegekere we ndisula, kubanga nnina essuubi, nga Katonda okusaba kwammwe ajja kukuddamu anzikirize nkomewo gye muli.
Okusiibula
2323 Bak 1:7Epafula, musibe munnange olw’okubuulira Enjiri ya Kristo Yesu, abalamusizza.
2424 a Bik 12:12 b Bik 19:29 c Bak 4:14Ne bakozi bannange bano: Makko, ne Alisutaluuko, ne Dema, ne Lukka nabo babalamusizza.
2525 2Ti 4:22Ekisa kya Mukama waffe Yesu Kristo kibeerenga n’omwoyo gwammwe.
