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.
1我是为了传扬基督耶稣而被囚禁的保罗，与提摩太弟兄写信给我们亲爱的同工腓利门、 2亚腓亚姊妹和我们的战友亚基布，以及在你家聚会的弟兄姊妹。
3愿我们的父上帝和主耶稣基督赐给你们恩典和平安！
称赞腓利门
4腓利门弟兄，我每次为你们祷告时都会感谢我的上帝， 5因为我听说了你对众圣徒的爱心和对主耶稣的信心。 6我求上帝使你因着有份于信仰而明白我们在基督里所拥有的一切福分。 7弟兄啊，你的爱心给我带来极大的喜乐和安慰，因为你使众圣徒感到欣慰。
凭爱心求情
8因此，我尽管可以靠着基督吩咐你去做当做的事， 9然而我这上了年纪又为基督耶稣的缘故被囚禁的保罗宁愿凭爱心求你， 10就是替阿尼西谋1:10 “阿尼西谋”这个名字意思是有用、有益处。求你。他是我在狱中带领归主的属灵儿子， 11他过去对你没有什么益处，但现在对你对我都有益处。
12我现在派我深爱的阿尼西谋回你那里。 13我本想把他留在身边，让他在我为传福音而坐牢期间替你服侍我。 14不过，未经你同意，我不愿这样做，免得你的善行是出于勉强，而非自愿。 15也许他暂时离开你是为了让你以后永远得到他。 16你得到的不再是一个奴隶，而是一位远超过奴隶的亲爱弟兄。对我而言，的确如此；从人的角度和主内关系而言，他更是你亲爱的弟兄。
17你若当我是同伴，就请你像接纳我一样接纳他。 18如果他得罪你，或亏欠你什么，都记在我的账上吧。 19我保罗在此亲笔保证，我必偿还。其实我不说你也知道，你欠我的是你整个人。
20弟兄啊，看在主的份上，让我从你那里得益处，在基督里心得安慰吧！ 21我写信给你，深信你一定会照办，甚至超过我的要求。 22同时，也请你为我预备住处，因为我盼望借着你们的祷告，我可以蒙恩到你们那里。
问候
23为了基督耶稣的缘故和我一同坐牢的以巴弗问候你。 24此外，我的同工马可、亚里达古、底马和路加都问候你。
25愿我们主耶稣基督的恩典与你们的灵同在。阿们！
