1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,

2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

5 Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.

8 Why, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin you that which is convenient,

9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: you therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without your mind would I do nothing; that your benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he has wronged you, or owes you ought, put that on my account;

19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to you how you owe to me even your own self besides.

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.

22 But with prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you.

23 There salute you Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.

prisoner. Compare Eph 3:1; Eph 4:1. 2Ti 1:8.

Jesus Christ = Christ Jesus. App-98.

our = the.

unto = to.

dearly beloved. Greek. agapetos. App-130.

fellowlabourer. Greek. sunergos. See 1Co 3:9.

beloved. The texts read "sister".

Apphia. Tradition says she was the wife of Philemon.

Archippus. See Col 4:11.

fellowsoldier. Only here and Php 1:2, Php 1:25, which see.

church. App-186.

in. Greek. kata. App-104.

Grace. Greek. charis. App-184.

from. App-104. God. App-98.

Father. App-98.

Lord. App-98.

Jesus Christ. App-98.

thank. Greek. eucharisteo. See Act 27:35.

mention. Greek. mneia. See Rom 1:9. Eph 1:16, 1Th 1:2.

always. App-161.

in. Greek. epi. App-104.

prayers. Greek. proseuche. App-134.

love = the love. App-135.

faith = the faith. App-150.

toward. Greek. pros. App-104.

Lord. App-98.

Jesus. App-98.

toward. Greek. eis, App-104.

saints = the saints. See Act 9:13.

That. Supply the ellipsis by "(Praying) that".

communication = fellowship. Greek. koinonia, See Act 2:42.

effectual. Greek. energes. See 1Co 16:9. Elsewhere, Heb 4:12. See App-172.

by. App-104.

acknowledging. App-132.

in. App-104.

you. The texts read "us".

in. Greek. eis. App-104.

Christ. App-98.X.

Jesus. The texts omit.

we have. The texts read "I had".

consolation. See Act 4:36.

in. App-104.

bowels. See 2Co 6:12,

are = have been.

refreshed. See 1Co 16:18.

by. App-104. Phm 1:1.

though . . . bold. Literally having much boldness (Greek. parrhesia, freedom of speech). Compare Act 2:29.

enjoin = command. Greek. epitasso

convenient. Greek. aneko. See Eph 5:4.

Yet. Omit.

for. sake. App-104.

beseech. App-134. Compare Phm 1:7.

aged. Greek. presbutes. See Tit 2:2. Elsewhere, Luk 1:18.

also, &c. = a prisoner also.

for. App-104.

son. App-108.

have begotten = begat. Compare Php 1:1, Php 1:12, Php 1:13.

unprofitable = not useful. Greek. achrestos. Only here. Figure of speech Meiosis. App-6.

profitable. Greek. euchrestos. See 2Ti 2:21.

have. Omit,

sent again = sent back. App-174.

thou therefore receive. The texts omit, and read "sent again to thee",

mine own bowels = as mine own self. Figure of speech Synecdoche. App-6.

would, &c. = was minded (App-102.) to retain.

with. App-104. xv B.

that = in order

that. Greek. hina.

in . . . stead. App-104.

might have, &c. = may minister. App-190.

gospel. See App-140.

without = apart from, Greek. choris.

mind. App-177.

would. Literally was wilting to. App-102.

nothing. Greek. ouden.

thy benefit. Literally the good thing of thee.

not. App-106. IL

it were. Omit.

of. App-104.

willingly = according to (App-104.)

free-will. Greek. hekousios. Only here. The adverb in Heb 10:26. 1Pe 6:2.

perhaps. Greek. tacha. Only here and Rom 5:7.

therefore = because of (App-104. Phm 1:2) this.

departed = was separated. Greek. chorizo. First occurance: Mat 19:6.

for, App-104.

season. Literally hour. Greek. hora,

receive. Greek. apecho. See Mat 6:2.

for ever. App-181.

Not now = No longer. Greek. ouketi.

servant. App-190.

above. App-101.

If. App-118.

count. Literally have. Greek. echo.

partner = partaker. Greek. Koinonos. See 1Co 10:18.

receive. Greek. proslambano. "You have received me; receite him in addition, as myself. "Compare Rom 15:7.

hath. Omit.

put . . . on . . . account. Greek. ellogeo. Only here and Rom 5:13 (imputed).

have written = wrote.

repay. Greek. apotino. Only here.

albeit = that. Greek. hina.

how = that.

owest . . . besides. Greek. prosopheilo. Only here.

let me have joy = may I profit Greek. oninemi, the root-word from which comes onesimos "Let me have profit from thee. seeing I em sending back Onesimus (profitable) to thee. "

the Lord. The texts read "Christ". App-98.

Having confidence. App-150.

knowing. App-192.

also do more = do more also.

more than = above (App-104.) that which.

withal. Greek. hama. See Col 4:3. 2Ti 5:13.

me also = also for me,

lodging. Greek. xenia. Only here and Act 28:33.

trust = hope. Greek. elpizo.

through. App-104. Phm 1:1.

given = granted as a favour. Greek. chariaomai. App-184.

salute = greet. Greek. aspocamai. Compare Col 4:12.

Epaphras. See Col 1:7.

fellowprisoner. Greek. sunaichmalitos. See Rom 16:7.

Christ Jesus. App-98.

Marcus. See Act 12:12, Act 12:25; Act 15:37, Act 15:39. Col 4:10. 2Ti 4:11; 1Pe 5:13.

Aristarchus. See Act 19:29; Act 20:4; Act 27:2. Col 4:10.

Demas. See Col 4:14. 2Ti 4:10.

Lucas. See Col 4:14. 2Ti 4:11; also Introduction Notes to Luke’s Gospel, especially the foot-note.

The grace, &c. Paul’s constant benediction.

with. App-104.

spirit. App-101.