Greeting

¹ Paul,^(A) a prisoner^(B) of Christ Jesus,^(C) and Timothy^(D) our brother:

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, ² to Apphia our sister,^[a] to Archippus^(E) our fellow soldier,^(F) and to the church that meets in your home.^(G)

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

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love^(H) for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective^(I) through knowing every good thing^(J) that is in us^[b] for the glory of Christ. ⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed^(K) through you, brother.

An Appeal for Onesimus

⁸ For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, ⁹ I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man^[c] and now also as a prisoner^(L) of Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ appeal to you for my son,^(M) Onesimus.^[d](N) I became his father^(O) while I was in chains. ¹¹ Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back to you – I am sending my very own heart.^{[e][f] 13} I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. ¹⁴ But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but 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^(P) and in the Lord.^(Q)

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome^(R) him as you would me. ¹⁸ And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.^{(S) 19} I, Paul, write this with my own hand:^(T) I will repay it – 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 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²² Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Final Greetings

²³ Epaphras,^(U) my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do ²⁴ Mark,^(V) Aristarchus,^(W) Demas, and Luke,^(X) my co-workers.

²⁵ The grace of the Lord^[g](Y) Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^(Z)

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord,^(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(B) and gentleness, with patience,^(C) bearing^(D) with one another in love,^{(E) 3} making every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit^(G) through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(H) – just as you were called to one hope^[a](I) at your calling –  ⁵ one Lord,^(J) one faith,^(K) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(L) and Father^(M) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(N)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(O) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he^[c] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[d](R) 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,^(S) to fill all things.^{(T) 11} And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(U) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(V) growing into maturity with a stature^(W) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(X) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head^(Y) – Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(Z) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(AA) of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

¹⁷ Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because^[e] of the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity^(AB) with a desire for more and more.^[f]

²⁰ But that is not how you came to know Christ, ²¹ assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth^(AC) is in Jesus, ²² to take off^[g](AD) your former way of life,^(AE) the old self^(AF) that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[h] in the spirit^(AG) of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[i](AH) the new self, the one created^(AI) according to God’s likeness^(AJ) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

²⁵ Therefore, putting away^(AK) lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbour,^[j](AL) because we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin.^[k](AM) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share^(AN) with anyone in need. ²⁹ No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,^[l] so that it gives grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.^(AO) You were sealed by him^[m] for the day of redemption.^{(AP) 31} Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind^(AQ) and compassionate^(AR) to one another, forgiving^(AS) one another, just as God also forgave you^[n] in Christ.

5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, ² and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us,^(AT) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. ³ But sexual immorality^(AU) and any impurity^(AV) or greed^(AW) should not even be heard of^[o] among you, as is proper for saints. ⁴ Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. ⁵ For know and recognise this: Every sexually immoral^(AX) or impure^(AY) or greedy^(AZ) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(BA) of Christ and of God.

Light versus Darkness

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath^(BB) is coming on the disobedient^[p] because of these things. ⁷ Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(BC) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(BD) –  ⁹ for the fruit of the light^[q] consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(BE) –  ¹⁰ testing^(BF) what is pleasing^(BG) to the Lord. ¹¹ Don’t participate in the fruitless^(BH) works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made visible,^{(BI) 14} for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:

Consistency in the Christian Life

¹⁵ Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk – not as unwise people but as wise –  ¹⁶ making the most of the time,^[r](BM) because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So don’t be foolish, but understand^(BN) what the Lord’s will^(BO) is. ¹⁸ And don’t get drunk^(BP) with wine,^(BQ) which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:^{(BR) 19} speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.^(BS)

Wives and Husbands

²² Wives,^(BT) submit^[s](BU) to your husbands^(BV) as to the Lord, ²³ because the husband is the head of the wife^(BW) as Christ is the head^(BX) of the church. He is the Saviour of the body.^{(BY) 24} Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(BZ) just as Christ loved^(CA) the church and gave himself^(CB) for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[t] her with the washing of water by the word. ²⁷ He did this to present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless.^{(CC) 28} In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, ³⁰ since we are members of his body.^{[u] 31} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,^(CD) and the two will become one flesh.^{[v](CE) 32} This mystery^(CF) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey^(CG) your parents in the Lord, because this is right. ² Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, ³ so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.^{[w][x](CH) 4} Fathers, don’t stir up anger^(CI) in your children, but bring them up in the training^(CJ) and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

⁵ Slaves, obey your human^[y] masters^(CK) with fear and trembling,^(CL) in the sincerity^(CM) of your heart, as you would Christ. ⁶ Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing God’s will^(CN) from your heart. ⁷ Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,^{(CO) 8} knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. ⁹ And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening^(CP) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism^(CQ) with him.^(CR)

Christian Warfare

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.^{(CS) 11} Put on^(CT) the full armour^(CU) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh^(CV) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(CW) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,^(CX) spiritual forces in the heavens.^{(CY) 13} For this reason take up the full armour^(CZ) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(DA) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand,^(DB) therefore, with truth^(DC) like a belt round your waist, righteousness^(DD) like armour on your chest,^{(DE) 15} and your feet sandalled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield^(DF) of faith^(DG) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(DH) 17} Take the helmet^(DI) of salvation and the sword^(DJ) of the Spirit^(DK) – which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray^(DL) at all times in the Spirit^(DM) with every prayer and request, and stay alert^(DN) with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness^(DO) the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador^(DP) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

²¹ Tychicus,^(DQ) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant^[z] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. ²² I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage^(DR) your hearts.^(DS)

²³ Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father^(DT) and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.^[aa][ab]