PHM 1:9 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.
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 because of love I appeal to you instead—being such a one as Paul, an elder, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

UST But instead of commanding you, because we love each other, I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner because I serve the Messiah, Jesus, only request that you do this.

BSB I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. [For] I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

MSB I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. [For] I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Jesus Christ[fn] as well.

BLB rather, I exhort you for the sake of love, being such a one as Paul, now aged and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

AICNT I appeal more out of love, being such as Paul, an elder, but now also a prisoner of {Christ Jesus};[fn]

1:9, Christ Jesus: Later manuscripts read “Jesus Christ.” BYZ TR

OEB yet the claims of love make me prefer to plead with you – yes, even me, Paul, though I am an ambassador for Christ Jesus and, now a prisoner for him as well.

WEBBE 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.

WMBB yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Yeshua the Messiah.

MSG ^(8-9)In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.

NET I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus –

LSV because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

FBV I would rather ask you this favor out of love. Old Paul, now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

TCNT I would rather appeal to yoʋ on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner for [fn]Jesus Christ,

1:9 Jesus Christ [91.9%] ¦ Christ Jesus CT [6.1%]

T4T But because I know that you love God’s people, I request this instead of commanding you to do it. It is I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner because I serve Christ Jesus, who am requesting it.

LEB No LEB PHM 1:9 verse available

BBE Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:

Moff I prefer to appeal to you on the ground of love. Well then, as Paul the old man, who now-a-days is a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

Wymth it is for love's sake that—instead of that—although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

ASV yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

DRA For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

YLT because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

Drby for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

RV yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:
(yet for love’s sake I rather beseech/implore, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: )

SLT By love I beseech rather, being such as Paul an aged man, and now also the imprisoned of Jesus Christ.

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

KJB-1769 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
(Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech/implore thee/you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. )

KJB-1611 Yet for loues sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Iesus Christ.
(Yet for loves sake I rather beseech/implore thee/you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Yesus/Yeshua Christ.)

Bshps Yet for loues sake, I rather beseche thee, beyng such a one as Paul the aged, & nowe also a prisoner of Iesus Christe.
(Yet for loves sake, I rather beseech/implore thee/you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Yesus/Yeshua Christ.)

Gnva Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.
(Yet for loves sake I rather beseech/implore thee/you, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and even now a prisoner for Yesus/Yeshua Christ. )

Cvdl yet for loues sake I rather beseke ye, though I be as I am, eue Paul aged, and now a presoner also of Iesu Christ.
(yet for loves sake I rather beseke ye/you_all, though I be as I am, eve/even Paul aged, and now a prisoner also of Yesu Christ.)

TNT yet for loves sake I rather beseche the though I be as I am even Paul aged and now in bondes for Iesu Christes sake.
(yet for loves sake I rather beseech/implore the though I be as I am even Paul aged and now in bonds for Yesu Christ’s sake. )

Wycl but Y biseche more for charite, sithen thou art siche as the elde Poul, and now the boundun of Jhesu Crist.
(but I beseech/implore more for charity, since thou/you art such as the old Poul, and now the bound of Yhesu Christ.)

Luth so will ich doch um der Liebe willen nur vermahnen, der ich ein solcher bin, nämlich ein alter Paulus, nun aber auch ein Gebundener JEsu Christi.
(so will I though/but around/by/for the/of_the love(n) will only vermahnen, the/of_the I a such am, namely a alter Paulus, now but also a Gebundener Yesu Christi.)

ClVg propter caritatem magis obsecro, cum sis talis, ut Paulus senex, nunc autem et vinctus Jesu Christi:
(because charity more I_beg, when/with you_are such, as Paulus old_man, now however and prisoner Yesu Christi: )

UGNT διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην μᾶλλον παρακαλῶ τοιοῦτος ὢν, ὡς (Παῦλος πρεσβύτης νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ),
(dia taʸn agapaʸn mallon parakalō toioutos ōn, hōs (Paulos presbutaʸs nuni de kai desmios Ⱪristou Yaʸsou),)

SBL-GNT διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην μᾶλλον παρακαλῶ, τοιοῦτος ὢν ὡς Παῦλος πρεσβύτης νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος ⸂Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ⸃—
(dia taʸn agapaʸn mallon parakalō, toioutos ōn hōs Paulos presbutaʸs nuni de kai desmios ⸂Ⱪristou Yaʸsou⸃—)

RP-GNT διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην μᾶλλον παρακαλῶ, τοιοῦτος ὢν ὡς Παῦλος πρεσβύτης, νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ.
(dia taʸn agapaʸn mallon parakalō, toioutos ōn hōs Paulos presbutaʸs, nuni de kai desmios Yaʸsou ⱪristou.)

TC-GNT διὰ τὴν ἀγάπην μᾶλλον παρακαλῶ, τοιοῦτος ὢν ὡς Παῦλος πρεσβύτης, νυνὶ δὲ καὶ δέσμιος [fn]Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
(dia taʸn agapaʸn mallon parakalō, toioutos ōn hōs Paulos presbutaʸs, nuni de kai desmios Yaʸsou Ⱪristou. )

1:9 ιησου χριστου [91.9%] ¦ χριστου ιησου CT [6.1%]

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 8–11 Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus

Read verses 8–11 again, then read the following notes before you translate.

9a

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love.

Instead, I am simply asking you to do it because we ^(dual-incl) love each other and God’s people.
But I will only ask you, because I know you love me and your fellow believers.

I prefer: The phrase I prefer indicates that Paul wanted to appeal to Philemon on the basis of love instead of ordering him what to do.

to appeal: Paul was asking Philemon to do something. This was not the same as telling him to do it. And he was not asking a question.

on the basis of love: Rather than ordering Philemon to obey a command, Paul wanted Philemon to help Onesimus because of love. But it is not clear who loved whom. There are three interpretations:

Philemon should do what Paul wanted simply because he loved Paul.
Philemon should do what he ought to do, not because of a command, but because he loved all of God’s people.
Paul did not use his authority to tell Philemon what to do. The reason was: Paul loved Philemon. GNT follows this third interpretation.

All three interpretations are possible, and perhaps Paul was thinking about all these meanings when he wrote this passage. But the first interpretation seems most likely because of the following words in 9b. Verse part 9b implies that Philemon should show that he was thankful to Paul, an old man in prison. And he also should be thankful for Paul helping him to trust in Christ.

9b

For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

I, Paul, am asking you as an old man now, and as someone whom people have put in prison because I serve Jesus Christ.
I do this as Paul—an old man, and now also in prison for the sake of Christ Jesus.

I, Paul: Paul was giving reasons why Philemon should agree to do what Paul asked him to do. For example:

He was Philemon’s friend, Paul.
He was an old man.
He was suffering because he trusted in Christ.

am now aged: The Greek word presbutēs has two possible meanings in this verse:

“old man” (BSB, NIV, JB, JBP, NLT, KJV)
“ambassador,” a man who speaks for important people (GNT, NEB, RSV)

The phrase am now aged probably represents the right meaning in this verse because Paul had just said that he was not giving an order to Philemon, as a man of authority (verse 8) would do. Paul, as an aged man in prison for Christ (verse 9), was appealing to Philemon.

a prisoner: See notes on verse 1a.

Parallel PHM 1:9

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

Paragraph 8–11 Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus

9a

9b