PHM 1:20 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my inner parts in Christ.

UST Yes, my fellow believer, I am saying what you think I am saying. I want you to do this for me because of what the Lord did for you. Give me another reason to be glad that we are both joined to the Messiah.

1:20 Greek onaimēn, a play on the name Onesimus

1:20 CT in Christ

BLB Yes, brother, may I have profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

AICNT Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in {Christ}.[fn]

1:20, Christ: Later manuscripts read “the Lord.” BYZ TR

OEB Yes, friend, let me gain something from you because of your union with the Lord. Cheer my heart by your Christlike spirit.

WEBBE Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

LSV Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the LORD; refresh my yearnings in the LORD;

FBV Yes, brother, I'm expecting this favor from you in the Lord; please make me happy in Christ.

TCNT Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from yoʋ in the Lord. Refresh my heart in [fn]the Lord.

1:20 the Lord 74.4% ¦ Christ CT 20.3%

T4T ◄Yes/I say it again►, my dear friend, because you and I both have a relationship with the Lord, I want you to do this for me. Encourage me [SYN] by receiving Onesimus kindly, just like you encourage others who believe in Christ.

LEB No LEB PHM 1:20 verse available

BBE So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

Moff Come, brother, let me have some return from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

Wymth Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

ASV Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

DRA Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

YLT Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;

Drby Yea, brother, I would have profit of thee in [the] Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

RV Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.
(Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee/you in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. )

SLT Yea, brother, may I be profited by thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

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

KJB-1769 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
(Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee/you in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. )

KJB-1611 Yea, brother, let mee haue ioy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowles in the Lord.
(Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee/you in the Lord: refresh my bowls in the Lord.)

Bshps Yea brother, let me enioy this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: Comfort my bowels in the Lorde.
(Yea brother, let me enjoy this pleasure of thee/you in the Lord: Comfort my bowels in the Lord.)

Gnva Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.
(Yea, brother, let me obtain this pleasure of thee/you in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord. )

Cvdl Euen so brother, let me enioye the in the LORDE: refresh thou my hert in the LORDE.
(Even so brother, let me enjoy the in the LORD: refresh thou/you my heart in the LORD.)

TNT Even so brother let me enioye the in the Lorde. Comforte my bowels in the Lorde.
(Even so brother let me enjoy the in the Lord. Comfort my bowels in the Lord. )

Wycl So, brothir, Y schal vse thee in the Lord; fille thou myn entrails in Crist.
(So, brother, I shall use thee/you in the Lord; fill thou/you mine entrails in Christ.)

Luth Ja, lieber Bruder, gönne mir, daß ich mich an dir ergötze in dem HErr’s; erquicke mein Herz in dem HErr’s!
(Yes, love(v) brother, grant(v) to_me, that I me at/to you/to_you(sg) ergötze in to_him LORD’s; refresh my heart in to_him LORD’s!)

ClVg ita, frater. Ego te fruar in Domino: refice viscera mea in Domino.
(so/thus, brother. I you(sg) enjoy in/into/on Master: refice viscera my in/into/on Master. )

UGNT ναί, ἀδελφέ, ἐγώ σου ὀναίμην ἐν Κυρίῳ; ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα ἐν Χριστῷ.
(nai, adelfe, egō sou onaimaʸn en Kuriōi; anapauson mou ta splagⱪna en Ⱪristōi.)

SBL-GNT ναί, ἀδελφέ, ἐγώ σου ὀναίμην ἐν κυρίῳ· ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα ἐν ⸀Χριστῷ.
(nai, adelfe, egō sou onaimaʸn en kuriōi; anapauson mou ta splagⱪna en ⸀Ⱪristōi.)

RP-GNT Ναί, ἀδελφέ, ἐγώ σου ὀναίμην ἐν κυρίῳ· ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα ἐν κυρίῳ.
(Nai, adelfe, egō sou onaimaʸn en kuriōi; anapauson mou ta splagⱪna en kuriōi.)

TC-GNT Ναί, ἀδελφέ, ἐγώ σου ὀναίμην ἐν Κυρίῳ· ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα ἐν [fn]Κυρίῳ.
(Nai, adelfe, egō sou onaimaʸn en Kuriōi; anapauson mou ta splagⱪna en Kuriōi. )

1:20 κυριω 74.4% ¦ χριστω CT 20.3%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Slavery

Slavery was an accepted way of life in the Roman world. Prisoners of war were often made slaves, many were born into slavery, and individuals could voluntarily become slaves for a period of time to work off a debt. A large percentage of the population, including many Christians, were either slaves or freed slaves (see Acts 6:9). Why, then, did Paul not denounce slavery?

There appear to be two reasons. First, slavery in the Roman world was very different from the kind of slavery familiar to the Western world. Slavery was not race-based, and it was seldom lifelong; most slaves could expect to be freed by the age of thirty. In fact, a number of people sold themselves into slavery for upward social mobility into otherwise unattainable social circles. Some slaves were well educated and held responsible positions in their households and in society; many had amicable relations with their masters. In the Roman world, Christians like Philemon would have felt no compunction about owning slaves.

The second reason that Paul did not decry the institution of slavery was that his calling was not to change the structures of society, but to build the church—to see people converted and their lives spiritually transformed. For Paul, whether a believer is a slave or not is somewhat irrelevant, as are external circumstances generally; the important thing is serving Christ, whatever one’s situation in life. In other words, Paul is more concerned with Christian life and witness than with physical emancipation. So even slaves can do their work as an act of worship (Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-24; cp. 1 Tim 6:1-2). When Paul addresses Christian slaves, he encourages them to accept their lot as a calling in which they can serve Christ; he is their real Master, and in him they are really free (1 Cor 7:20-24).

Paradoxically, every Christian (whether slave or free), having been freed from the most tragic form of slavery—slavery to sin—can now experience true freedom by living as a slave of God and of righteousness (Rom 6:6-22). For Paul, this is the only kind of slavery and freedom that is ultimately significant.

Passages for Further Study

Rom 6:6-22; 1 Cor 7:20-24; 9:19; Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-24; 1 Tim 6:1-2; Phlm 1:8-21

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8–21: Paul asks Philemon to accept back Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave

This is the main part of the letter. Paul stated clearly in verse 17 what he was asking Philemon to do. He said, “Welcome Onesimus back just as you would welcome me.” But before Paul asked Philemon to do this, he told Philemon several reasons why he should welcome Onesimus back. In verses 8–11, he told Philemon that he wanted him to do something to help Onesimus because Onesimus had become a Christian and would be useful to Philemon. Paul told Philemon that another reason why he should help Onesimus was because Philemon loved Paul and his other Christian brothers. In verses 12–14, Paul said that he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon, even though he wanted to keep Onesimus with him. In verses 15–16, Paul told Philemon why God may have allowed these things to happen, and that he (Paul) loved Onesimus very much. Then in verses 17–21, Paul finally said clearly that he wanted Philemon to welcome Onesimus. Paul offered to pay for anything Onesimus owed to Philemon. He also reminded Philemon that in the past he had helped Philemon become a Christian. This was another reason why Paul expected that Philemon would do what he asked.

In this Section (verses 8–21) Paul, as a Christian brother, asked Philemon to help Onesimus, but did not command him to do it.

Read verses 8–21 carefully in the BSB and the GNT.

Paragraph 17–21 Paul asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus back

In this paragraph Paul finally stated clearly to Philemon what he wanted him to do. He wanted Philemon to welcome Onesimus back in the same way that Philemon would welcome Paul if Paul were visiting him. This is the main point of the whole letter.

Paul promised to repay Philemon for anything Onesimus may have taken from Philemon or for anything wrong he may have done against him. But Paul knew that Philemon probably would not ask him to repay him, because Paul had helped him to become a Christian. Christ surely changed the way Philemon thought about life and about money. In fact, Paul was sure that Philemon would do what he was asking him to do and even more.

Paul was also sending Onesimus back to Philemon because Onesimus needed to obey his master again and help him and show that he had changed. If Onesimus did this, he and Philemon could have peace with each other again.

Read verses 17–21 again.

20a

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord.

So, my brother, please do this kind thing for me because we ^(dual-incl) belong to the Lord.
For the Lord’s sake, my brother, please do for me this thing I am asking.

Yes, brother: Paul was again asking Philemon to welcome Onesimus. See verse 17.

some benefit: Paul was not asking Philemon to help him in some general way. He wanted Philemon to do a specific thing for him. He wanted him to forgive Onesimus and receive him back. So the meaning is clearer in the CEV: “do this for me” (referring to the favor Paul asked for in verse 17).

in the Lord: The main idea of this phrase seems to be that Paul wanted Philemon to think about Paul’s request as a fellow believer in Christ would. And he wanted Philemon to think of Onesimus as a fellow Christian, not only as a slave. Paul believed that as Philemon thought like this, he would do what Paul was asking him to do.

20b

Refresh my heart in Christ.

Encourage me by doing this as a fellow believer.
Do what I ask because we both belong to Christ.

Refresh my heart: “Cheer me up,” “make me happy,” “set my heart at rest,” “relieve my worry.” Paul was saying, in other words here, what he already said in verse 20a. He used the same phrase here that he used in verse 7.

in Christ: This is the same kind of phrase as “in the Lord” (20a). Another way to say it is: “as a fellow Christian.”

Verse 20b means the same as verse 20a. Paul was still saying that he wanted Philemon to do what he had asked him to do. Here are two ways to translate it:

Make me happy as a Christian brother by doing this favor for me.

Cause me to be happy as your Christian brother: do this favor for me.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφέ

brother

Here, brother is a metaphor for a fellow believer. Alternate translation: [spiritual brother] or [brother in Christ]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Κυρίῳ

in ˓the˒_Lord

See how you translated in the Lord in verse 16. This metaphor refers to being a believer in Jesus and means the same as in Christ. Alternate translation: [as you serve the Lord] or [because we are fellow believers in the Lord]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα ἐν Χριστῷ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ναί ἀδελφέ ἐγώ σοῦ ὀναίμην ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀνάπαυσον μού τά σπλάγχνα ἐν Χριστῷ)

How Paul wanted Philemon to refresh him can be made explicit. Alternate translation: [refresh my inward parts in Christ by accepting Onesimus kindly]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ναί ἀδελφέ ἐγώ σοῦ ὀναίμην ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀνάπαυσον μού τά σπλάγχνα ἐν Χριστῷ)

Here, refresh is a metaphor for comfort or encourage. Alternate translation: [encourage me] or [comfort me]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἀνάπαυσόν μου τὰ σπλάγχνα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ναί ἀδελφέ ἐγώ σοῦ ὀναίμην ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀνάπαυσον μού τά σπλάγχνα ἐν Χριστῷ)

Here, inward parts is a metonym for a person’s feelings, thoughts, or inner being. Alternate translation: [encourage me] or [comfort me]

Parallel PHM 1:20

Section 8–21: Paul asks Philemon to accept back Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave

Paragraph 17–21 Paul asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus back

20a

20b