1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ*1:1 "Christ" means "Anointed One". Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,*1:10 Onesimus means "useful". 11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

1 Pauluselt, kes on Kristuse Jeesuse vang, ja Timoteoselt, meie vennalt,

Armastatud sõbrale ja kaastöölisele Fileemonile, 2 samuti õde Apfiale, meie kaasvõitlejale Arhipposele ja kogudusele sinu kodus:

3 Armu ja rahu teile Jumalalt, meie Isalt, ja Issandalt Jeesuselt Kristuselt.

4 Ma tänan alati Jumalat, pidades sind meeles oma palvetes, 5 sest ma olen kuulnud sinu usust Issandasse Jeesusesse ja su armastusest kogu tema püha rahva vastu. 6 Ma palvetan, et su usu osadus meiega aitaks sind paremini mõista kõike seda head, mida me Kristuse pärast jagame. 7 Mind on palju rõõmustanud ja julgustanud sinu armastus, vend, sest sinu kaudu on Jumala rahvas saanud õnnistatud.

8 Seepärast, kuigi ma võiksin Kristuses olla otsekohene ja sind käskida teha, mis on sinu kohus, 9 eelistan ma armastuse pärast sind pigem paluda. Sellena, kes olen – vana mees Paulus ja nüüd ka vang Kristuse Jeesuse pärast, 10 palun ma sind oma poja Oneesimose pärast, kellele ma sain isaks vangisoleku ajal. 11 Varem oli ta sulle kasutu, nüüd on ta aga saanud kasulikuks nii sulle kui mulle*1:11 Oneesimos tähendab kasulikku..

12 Ma saadan tema, mu oma südame, sinu juurde tagasi. 13 Ma oleksin soovinud teda enese juures hoida, et ta sinu asemel oleks mind abistanud, kui olen evangeeliumi pärast ahelates, 14 aga ilma sinu nõusolekuta ei tahtnud ma teha midagi, et sinu heategu ei oleks sunniviisiline, vaid vabatahtlik. 15 Võib-olla võeti ta just sellepärast sinult ajutiselt ära, et sa saaksid ta tagasi jäädavalt, 16 mitte enam kui orja, vaid enam kui orja – kui venna. Ta on mulle väga armas, aga veel armsam on ta sulle, nii inimesena kui vennana Issandas.

17 Kui sa pead mind oma kaaslaseks Kristuses, võta teda vastu nagu mind ennast! 18 Aga kui ta sulle on teinud mingit kahju või sulle midagi võlgneb, siis arvesta seda minu võlana. 19 See on kirjutatud minu, Pauluse oma käega: mina maksan tagasi! Ma ei peaks seda isegi ütlema, et sina võlgned mulle iseenda. 20 Ma soovin, vend, et mul oleks sinust kasu Issandas. Rõõmusta minu südant Kristuses!

21 Seda kirjutades olen ma kindel sinu kuulekuses, ma tean, et sa teed isegi rohkem, kui ma palun.

22 Ja veel üks asi – pane oma külalistetuba minu jaoks valmis, sest ma loodan, et mind antakse teile tagasi teie eestpalvete tõttu.

23 Sind tervitavad Epafras, minu kaasvang Kristuses Jeesuses.

24 Ja minu kaastöölised Markus, Aristarhos, Deemas ja Luukas tervitavad sind.

25 Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse arm olgu teie vaimuga!