Koine Foundations

Translation by Matthew Jones
koinefoundationa@gmail.com
Completed November 2022

Translation

¹ Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy.

To Philemon, our beloved friend and coworker, ² and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the church at your house.

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always give thanks to my God as I remember you during my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. ⁶ I pray that your participation in the faith might powerfully deepen your understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. ⁷ I was overcome with joy and encouraged because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

⁸ Therefore, although I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is proper, ⁹ instead I appeal to you on the basis of love – such as I am, Paul, an elder man but now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ I appeal to you concerning my child, who became my child while I was imprisoned, Onesimus – ¹¹ previously useless to you, but now useful both to you and to me.

¹² I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart. ¹³ I wanted to keep him with me so that he could minister to me in your place during my imprisonment because of the Good News. ¹⁴ However, I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your special favor might be done of your own free will, and not by coercion. ¹⁵ Perhaps he was separated from you for a short time so that you might have him back forever – ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ Therefore, if you regard me as a partner, then welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand – I will pay it back. (Not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self.) ²⁰ Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ I am writing to you confident of your obedience because I know you will do even more than I say.

²² Now as a further matter, be ready to prepare a guest room for me, for I hope to be graciously given to you through your prayers.

²³ Epaphras, a fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus with me, greets you, ²⁴ and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, fellow-laborers with me.

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

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