The Sacred Bible:  The Letter to Philemon [Philemon 1]
[Philemon 1]

{1:1} Paulus vinctus Christi Iesu, et Timotheus frater: Philemoni dilecto, et adiutori nostro,
{1:1} Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

{1:2} et Appiæ sorori charissimæ, et Archippo commilitoni nostro, et Ecclesiæ, quæ in domo tua est.
{1:2} and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

{1:3} Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Iesu Christo.
{1:3} Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

{1:4} Gratias ago Deo meo, semper memoriam tui faciens in orationibus meis,
{1:4} I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

{1:5} audiens charitatem tuam, et fidem, quam habes in Domino Iesu, et in omnes sanctos:
{1:5} (for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

{1:6} ut communicatio fidei tuæ evidens fiat in agnitione omnis operis boni, quod est in vobis in Christo Iesu.
{1:6} so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

{1:7} Gaudium enim magnum habui, et consolationem in charitate tua: quia viscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.
{1:7} For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

{1:8} Propter quod multam fiduciam habens in Christo Iesu imperandi tibi quod ad rem pertinet:
{1:8} Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

{1:9} propter charitatem magis obsecro, cum sis talis, ut Paulus senex, nunc autem et vinctus Iesu Christi:
{1:9} but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

{1:10} Obsecro te pro meo filio, quem genui in vinculis, Onesimo,
{1:10} I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

{1:11} qui tibi aliquando inutilis fuit, nunc autem et mihi, et tibi utilis,
{1:11} In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

{1:12} quem remisi tibi. Tu autem illum, ut mea viscera, suscipe:
{1:12} So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

{1:13} quem ego volueram mecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis Evangelii:
{1:13} I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.

{1:14} sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere, uti ne velut ex necessitate bonum tuum esset, sed voluntarium.
{1:14} But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

{1:15} Forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam a te, ut æternum illum reciperes:
{1:15} So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,

{1:16} iam non ut servum, sed pro servo charissimum fratrem, maxime mihi: quanto autem magis tibi et in carne, et in Domino?
{1:16} no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

~ Onesimus was a slave (or indentured servant) who fled, was converted to Christianity by Paul and others, and who then was sent back to his master. His transition from a slave to a servant is a figure for the transition that a person makes who is freed from the slavery of sin, so as to become the servant of all in Christ Jesus.

{1:17} Si ergo habes me socium, suscipe illum sicut me:
{1:17} Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

{1:18} Si autem aliquid nocuit tibi, aut debet: hoc mihi imputa.
{1:18} But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

{1:19} Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu: ego reddam, ut non dicam tibi, quod et teipsum mihi debes:
{1:19} I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.

{1:20} ita frater. Ego te fruar in Domino: Refice viscera mea in Christo.
{1:20} So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

~ The last phrase ‘in Domino’ was changed to ‘in Christo’ in accord with the 1590 Sixtus V edition of the Vulgate.

{1:21} Confidens in obedientia tua scripsi tibi: sciens quoniam et super id, quod dico, facies.
{1:21} I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

{1:22} Simul autem et para mihi hospitium: nam spero per orationes vestras donari me vobis.
{1:22} But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

{1:23} Salutat te Epaphras concaptivus meus in Christo Iesu,
{1:23} Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

{1:24} Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, et Lucas, adiutores mei.
{1:24} and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

{1:25} Gratia Domini nostri Iesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Amen.
{1:25} May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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The Sacred Bible:  The Letter to Philemon

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