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 favour 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 for ever – 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.
Ìkíni
1Èmi Paulu, ẹni tí a fi sẹ́wọ̀n nítorí pé ó ń wàásù ìhìnrere Jesu Kristi àti Timotiu arákùnrin wa.
Sí Filemoni ọ̀rẹ́ wa ọ̀wọ́n àti alábáṣiṣẹ́ wa, 2sí Affia arábìnrin wa, sí Arkippu ẹni tó jẹ́ jagunjagun fún àgbélébùú náà àti sí ìjọ àwọn Kristiani tí ó ń pàdé nínú ilé rẹ:
33: Ro 1.7.Oore-Ọ̀fẹ́ fún un yín àti àlàáfíà láti ọ̀dọ̀ Ọlọ́run Baba wa àti Jesu Kristi.
Ọpẹ́ àti Àdúrà
44: Ro 1.8.Èmi máa ń dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ Ọlọ́run nígbà tí mo bá rántí rẹ nínú àdúrà mi, 5nítorí mo ń gbọ́ nípa ìgbàgbọ́ rẹ nínú Jesu Olúwa àti nípa ìfẹ́ rẹ sí àwọn ènìyàn mímọ́. 6Èmi ń gbàdúrà pé, bí ìwọ ti ń ṣe alábápín nínú ìgbàgbọ́ rẹ pẹ̀lú àwọn ẹlòmíràn, pé kí ìgbàgbọ́ náà lè mú ọkàn wọn dúró gbọingbọin, gẹ́gẹ́ bí wọn ti rí àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ohun rere tí ó ń bẹ nínú ayé rẹ, èyí tí ó ti ọ̀dọ̀ Kristi wá. 7Ìfẹ́ rẹ ti fún mi ní ayọ̀ púpọ̀ àti ìgboyà, nítorí ìwọ, arákùnrin ti tu ọkàn àwọn ènìyàn mímọ́ lára.
Paulu bẹ̀bẹ̀ fún Onesimu
8Nítorí náà, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé nínú Kristi mo ní ìgboyà púpọ̀ láti pàṣẹ ohun ti ó yẹ kí ó ṣe fún ọ, 9Síbẹ̀ nítorí ìfẹ́ èmí kúkú bẹ̀ ọ́. Èmi gẹ́gẹ́ bí Paulu, arúgbó, àti nísinsin yìí òǹdè Jesu Kristi. 1010: Kl 4.9.Èmí bẹ̀ ọ́ nítorí ọmọ mi Onesimu, ẹni tí ó di ọmọ nígbà tí mo wà nínú ìdè. 11Nígbà kan rí, kò wúlò fún ọ, ṣùgbọ́n ní báyìí, ó ti wúlò fún ọ àti fún èmi pàápàá.
12Èmi rán an nísinsin yìí, àní ẹni ọkàn mi padà sí ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ. 13Èmi ìbá fẹ́ láti dá a dúró sọ́dọ̀ mi níhìn-ín, kí ó ba à dípò rẹ láti máa ràn mí lọ́wọ́ nígbà tí mo wà nínú ìdè nítorí ìhìnrere 14ṣùgbọ́n èmi kò fẹ́ ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ rárá láìgba ìyọ̀ǹda ní ọwọ́ rẹ, kí oore tí ìwọ bá ṣe má ba à jẹ́ ìfipámúniṣe bí kò ṣe ìfìfẹ́ṣe. 15Bóyá ìdí rẹ̀ tí òun fi yẹra kúrò lọ́dọ̀ rẹ fún ìgbà díẹ̀ ni pé kí ìwọ kí ó lè gbà á padà sọ́dọ̀ títí láé; 16Kì í wá ṣe bí ẹrú mọ́, ṣùgbọ́n bí ẹni ti ó sàn ju ẹrú lọ, gẹ́gẹ́ bí arákùnrin. Ó ṣọ̀wọ́n fún mi jọjọ, ṣùgbọ́n ó ṣọ̀wọ́n fún ọ jù nípa ti ara àti gẹ́gẹ́ bí arákùnrin nínú Olúwa.
17Nítorí náà bí ìwọ bá kà mí sí ẹlẹgbẹ́ rẹ̀, tẹ́wọ́ gbà á bí ìwọ yóò ti tẹ́wọ́ gbà mí. 18Bí ó bá ti ṣe ọ́ ní ibi kan tàbí jẹ ọ́ ní gbèsè ohun kan, kà á sí mi lọ́rùn. 19Èmi Paulu, ni mo fi ọwọ́ ara mi kọ ìwé yìí; èmi yóò san án padà láì tilẹ̀ ní í sọ nípa pé ìwọ pàápàá jẹ mi ní gbèsè ara rẹ. 20Èmi ń fẹ́, arákùnrin, pé kí èmi kí ó lè ni àǹfààní kan láti ọ̀dọ̀ rẹ nínú Olúwa; fi ayọ̀ rẹ kún ọkàn mi nínú Kristi. 21Ìgbẹ́kẹ̀lé ti mo ní pé ìwọ yóò gbọ́rọ̀, ni mo fi kọ ìwé yìí ránṣẹ́ sí ọ. Mo mọ̀ dájú pé ìwọ yóò ṣe ju bí mo ti béèrè lọ.
22Ó ku ohun kan: Ṣe ìtọ́jú iyàrá àlejò rẹ sílẹ̀ fún mi, nítorí mo ní ìgbàgbọ́ pé a óò tú mi sílẹ̀ fún yín ní ìdáhùn sí àdúrà yín.
23Epafira, òǹdè ẹlẹgbẹ́ mi nínú Kristi Jesu kí ọ. 2424: Ap 12.12,25; 13.13; 15.37-39; Kl 4.10; Ap 19.29; 27.2; Kl 4.10; Kl 4.14; 2Tm 4.10; Kl 4.14; 2Tm 4.11.Marku kí ọ pẹ̀lú Aristarku, Dema àti Luku, àwọn alábáṣiṣẹ́ mi.
25Kí oore-ọ̀fẹ́ Jesu Kristi Olúwa wa wà pẹ̀lú ẹ̀mí yín.
