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. Some things (like capitalisation of ‘him’ referring to Jesus or ‘father’ referring to God) in the RV haven’t been decided yet so we’re still testing both ways.

Note: The Readers’ Version on the left 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 on the right 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 fully understand the Literal Version.) By comparing the left and right columns, you should be able to easily get the message of the text, while at the same time keeping an eye on what it was actually translated from.

Note that greyed words in the RV 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’ve tried to be as honest and transparent as possible.

The lighter coloured words in the LV are words which aren’t needed in the grammar of the original languages but are required or implied in English. You can read the Key to learn more about them. The underlines joining words in the LV show when one original language word needs to be translated into two or more English words. (Just hide them with the button if you don’t need that information and find it distracting.) Also, the majority of sentences in the LV don’t have the words put into a sensible English order yet. (This should be completed by the end of 2023.)

The bold words in the OET New Testament are words that the original writers or copyists marked to indicate that they considered them to refer to God. (Sadly, this information is not displayed in most Bible translations, especially since it seems to confirm that the earliest writers/copyists considered both Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be God.)

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 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.

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.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

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  Paulos, a_prisoner of_chosen_one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), and Timotheos, our brother, to_Filaʸmoni, the beloved and fellow-worker of_us, 2 and to_Apfia, the sister, and to_Arⱪippos, the fellow-soldier of_us, and to_the in the_house of_you assembly: 3 grace to_you_all and peace, from god father of_us and the_master Yaʸsous chosen_one /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.

4 I_am_giving_thanks to_the god of_me always, mentioning of_you making in the prayers of_me, 5 hearing of_you the love and the faith, that you_are_having toward the master Yaʸsous, and toward all the holy ones, 6 so_that the fellowship of_the faith of_you, active may_become in the_knowledge of_every good thing which in us toward chosen_one /messiah.

7 For/Because joy great I_had and exhortation, by the love of_you, because the hearts of_the holy ones has_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.

8 Therefore, much in chosen_one /messiah boldness having, to_be_commanding to_you what is fitting, 9 because_of the love rather I_am_exhorting you such being, as Paulos (an_older_man and now also a_prisoner of_chosen_one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa)), 10 I_am_exhorting you for the of_mine child, whom I_bore in my bonds, Onaʸsimos, 11 which once to_you useless, but now to_you and to_me useful, 12 whom I_sent_up to_you him, this is the my heart, 13 whom I was_wishing with myself to_be_keeping, in_order_that for you unto_me he_may_be_serving in the bonds of_the good_message, 14 but apart_from the your opinion, nothing I_wanted to_do, in_order_that not as according_to necessity the good of_you may_be, but according_to willing.

15 For/Because possibly because_of this, he_was_separated for an_hour, in_order_that eternal him you_may_receive_fully, 16 no_longer as a_slave, but above a_slave, a_brother beloved, most_of_all to_me and how_much rather to_you, both in the_flesh and in the_master.

17 Therefore if me you_are_having a_partner, receive him as me.

18 But if anything he_did_wrong to_you or is_owing you, this to_me be_imputing.

19 I Paulos wrote it the with_my ˓own˒_hand, I will_be_paying_back it, in_order_that not I_may_be_saying to_you that even yourself to_me are_additionally_owing.

20 Yes, brother, I from_you might_benefit in the_master, refresh of_me the heart in chosen_one /messiah.

21 Having_persuaded by_the obedience of_you, I_wrote to_you, having_known that even above what I_am_saying, you_will_be_doing.

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.

22 And together also be_preparing for_me a_lodging, because/for I_am_hoping that through the prayers of_you_all, I_will_be_being_granted to_you_all.

23 Is_greeting you Epafras, the fellow-prisoner of_me in chosen_one /messiah Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), 24 Markos, Aristarⱪos, Daʸmas, Loukas, the fellow-workers of_me.

25 The grace of_the master of_us, Yaʸsous chosen_one /messiah, with the spirit of_you_all be.

Truly.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

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