PHM 1:21 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) I wrote to you because I was sure that you’d obey my request, in fact knowing that you’d do even more than what I ask.

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 Having become confident in your obedience, I wrote to you, having known that you will do even beyond what I am saying.

UST As I write this letter to you, I am sure that you will do what I am asking you to do. In fact, I know that you will do even more than what I am asking you to do.

BLB Being persuaded of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even above what I say.

AICNT Trusting in your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will do even more than what I say.

OEB ¶ Even as I write, I have such confidence in your compliance with my wishes, that I am sure that you will do even more than I am asking.

CSB Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

NLT I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!

NIV Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

CEV I am sure you will do all I have asked, and even more.

ESV Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

NASB Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

LSB Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

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

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(21-22)I know you well enough to know you will. You’ll probably go far beyond what I’ve written. And by the way, get a room ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again.

NET Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.

LSV I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may say;

FBV I'm writing about this to you because I'm convinced you'll do as I ask—in fact I know you'll do even more than I've asked!

TCNT Trusting in yoʋr obedience, I write to yoʋ, knowing that yoʋ will do even more than I ask.

T4T I have written this letter to you, confident that you will do what I am requesting you to do. In fact, I know that you will do even more than what I am requesting you to do.

LEB No LEB PHM 1:21 verse available

NRSV Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

NKJV Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

NAB With trust in your compliance I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

BBE Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say.

Moff I send you this letter relying on your obedience; I know you will do even more than I tell you.

Wymth I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.

ASV Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.

DRA Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

YLT having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;

Drby Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

RV Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.
(Having confidence in thine/your obedience I write unto thee/you, knowing that thou/you wilt/will do even beyond what I say. )

SLT Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou wilt do above what I say to thee.

Wbstr Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

KJB-1769 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
(Having confidence in thy/your obedience I wrote unto thee/you, knowing that thou/you wilt/will also do more than I say. )

KJB-1611 Hauing confidence in thy obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt also doe more then I say.
(Having confidence in thy/your obedience, I wrote unto thee/you, knowing that thou/you wilt/will also do more then I say.)

Bshps Trustyng in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowyng, that thou wilt also do more then I say.
(Trusting in thine/your obedience, I wrote unto thee/you, knowing, that thou/you wilt/will also do more then I say.)

Gnva Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.
(Trusting in thine/your obedience, I wrote unto thee/you, knowing that thou/you wilt/will do eve/even more then I say. )

Cvdl Trustinge in thine obediece, I haue wrytten vnto the, for I knowe that thou wilt do more then I saye.
(Trustinge in thine/your obediece, I have written unto them, for I know that thou/you wilt/will do more then I saye.)

TNT Trustinge in thyne obediece I wrote vnto the knowynge that thou wilt do more then I saye for.
(Trustinge in thine/your obediece I wrote unto the knowing that thou/you wilt/will do more then I say for. )

Wycl Y tristnynge of thin obedience wroot to thee, witynge that thou schalt do ouer that that Y seie.
(I tristning of thin obedience wrote to thee/you, witing that thou/you shalt/shall do over that that I seie.)

Luth Ich hab‘ aus Zuversicht deines Gehorsams dir geschrieben; denn ich weiß, du wirst mehr tun, denn ich sage.
(I have out_of confidence your(s) Gehorsams you/to_you(sg) written; because/than I white, you(sg) will more do/put, because/than I said.)

ClVg Confidens in obedientia tua scripsi tibi: sciens quoniam et super id, quod dico, facies.
(Confidens in/into/on obedience your I_wrote to_you: knowing since/because and over that, that I_mean/say, faces. )

UGNT πεποιθὼς τῇ ὑπακοῇ σου, ἔγραψά σοι, εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ ὑπὲρ ἃ λέγω, ποιήσεις.
(pepoithōs taʸ hupakoaʸ sou, egrapsa soi, eidōs hoti kai huper ha legō, poiaʸseis.)

SBL-GNT πεποιθὼς τῇ ὑπακοῇ σου ἔγραψά σοι, εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ ὑπὲρ ⸀ἃ λέγω ποιήσεις.
(pepoithōs taʸ hupakoaʸ sou egrapsa soi, eidōs hoti kai huper ⸀ha legō poiaʸseis.)

RP-GNT Πεποιθὼς τῇ ὑπακοῇ σου ἔγραψά σοι, εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ ὑπὲρ ὃ λέγω ποιήσεις.
(Pepoithōs taʸ hupakoaʸ sou egrapsa soi, eidōs hoti kai huper ho legō poiaʸseis.)

TC-GNT Πεποιθὼς τῇ ὑπακοῇ σου ἔγραψά σοι, εἰδὼς ὅτι καὶ ὑπὲρ [fn]ὃ λέγω ποιήσεις.
(Pepoithōs taʸ hupakoaʸ sou egrapsa soi, eidōs hoti kai huper ho legō poiaʸseis. )

1:21 ο [93.9%] ¦ α CT [4%]

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.

21

This verse is a summary of what Paul was asking Philemon to do for Onesimus. Paul believed quite strongly that Philemon would do what he was asking him to do. And Paul may also have been thinking as he wrote this verse that perhaps Philemon would cancel all of Onesimus’ debt. See notes on verses 19 and 20.

21a

Confident of your obedience, I write to you,

Even as I write to you, I am sure you will do what I asked.

confident: Paul meant, “I am sure,” or, “I know.” He was reassuring Philemon that he believed that Philemon would be willing to do what Paul was asking him to do.

your obedience: The Greek words translated your obedience literally mean “that you will agree to my request.” Paul had said in verses 8 and 9 that he was asking Philemon to do only what Philemon chose willingly to do. He was not ordering him. The way the CEV translates it is probably closer to the actual meaning: “knowing that you will do what I ask you.”

I write: Paul himself wrote the part in verse 19 but probably did not write the whole letter with his own hand. He usually had someone write for him while Paul told him what to write. Paul was saying here that he was the one who had chosen what words to put in the letter.

21b

knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Yes, I know that you will do even more than I asked.

even more than I ask: Paul believed that Philemon would do all that was right as a Christian. This meant not only doing what Paul asked, which was to accept Onesimus back, but doing more as well. Paul may have been thinking about two things when he said even more: (a) Perhaps Philemon would not force Onesimus or Paul to repay any of Onesimus’ debts. And (b) perhaps Philemon would free Onesimus from slavery. But Bible scholars do not know whether Paul was thinking this, and they don’t know if Philemon did either of these things.

Parallel PHM 1:21

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

Paragraph 17–21 Paul asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus back

21

21a

21b