Philemon

Note: This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

Note: This Readers' Version is a translation into contemporary English aimed at the person on the street who hasn't necessarily been brought up with exposure to Biblical jargon and/or 500-year old English. (It's designed to be used alongside the Literal Version which gives the English reader a window into what's actually written in the original languages. (See the introduction for more details—we recommend that you read the introduction first if you're wanting to read and understand the Literal Version.) Between the two versions you should be able to easily read the clear message of the text, while at the same time being able to check for yourself if that's a fair translation of what the original authors had inked onto their ancient manuscripts.)

Note that greyed words are words that the translators consider were most probably in the mind of the writer, but as none of us can double-check with the original speakers or writers, the reader is free to disagree. They are clearly marked because we have tried to be as honest / transparent as possible.

Introduction

Philemon was known to be a follower of Yeshua and he was a member of a group of believers in the city of Colossae. He was the owner of a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus had fled from his master and eventually met Paul the missionary in prison in Rome. It was there that Onesimus became a believer in Yeshua because of Paul’s sharing of the good message. Here in Paul’s letter to Philemon, Paul requests that the good relationship be restored between Philemon and his slave, Onesimus. Because Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon, he wanted Philemon to take his slave back in, not just because he’d forgiven his slave, but also because his slave was now a fellow believer and hence his brother.

Main components of Paul’s letter

Introduction 1-3

Praising Philemon 4-7

Paul’s request to Philemon concerning Onesimus 8-22

Ending 23-25

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

It is our prayer that this Readers' Version of the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Greetings from Paul

Salutation

1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner of messiah Yeshua, and our brother Timothy. I’m writing to our dear co-worker Philemon, 2 [ref]as well as our sister Apphia and our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the assembly that meets in your home. 3 May you all experience grace and peace from our father God and from the master Yeshua the messiah.

1:4 Paul’s prayer and gratefulness

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 Philemon, I’m always thanking my God and mentioning you in my prayers 5 after hearing your faith and about your love for the master Yeshua and for all the believers. 6 I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become active in the knowledge of every good thing in us toward the messiah, [WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???] 7 because I was very happy and encouraged by your love, because the hearts of the believers have been refreshed by you, brother.

1:8 Paul’s request to Philemon concerning Onesimus

A Request for Onesimus

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

A runaway slave

8 Therefore, with the help of the messiah, I would be brave enough to tell you what you need to do, 9 but because of love as Paul, an older man and now also a prisoner for Yeshua the messiah, I’m just going to encourage you to do it. 10 [ref]So I’m going to encourage you concerning Onesimus who became my spiritual ‘son’ since I’ve been imprisoned. 11 Before, he was useless to you, but now he’s useful to both of us.

12 I sent him to you (even though in my heart 13 I wanted to keep him here) so that he might be serving me here due to the bonds of the good message, 14 but I didn’t want to do anything without hearing your opinion, so that you’re not doing good because you have to, but rather because you want to.

15 It was possibly because of that that he was separated from you for a while, so that on the eternal scale you could fully accept him, 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave—a dear brother to me most of all, but preferably also to you—a brother in the body and in Yahweh.

17 Therefore, if you consider me as your partner, accept him like you’d accept me, 18 but if he did anything wrong to you or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, wrote this bit in my own handwriting. I will pay back anything he owes you, then I won’t need to be reminding you that you pretty much owe yourself to me. 20 Yes, brother, with both of us being in Yahweh, I might hopefully benefit from you—refresh my heart in the messiah.

21 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.

1:22 Paul’s final greetings

22 Go ahead and prepare somewhere for me to stay, because I’m hoping that I’ll be able to visit, thanks to you all praying for me.

Paul’s Final Greetings

Final Greetings

Final Greetings and Benediction

23 [ref]Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Yeshua the messiah, sends his greetings, 24 [ref]as do my fellow-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.

25 May the grace of our master Yeshua the messiah be with the spirit of you all there. May it be so.