CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Philemon 1 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/philemon/1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/philemon/1-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Philemon 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../titus/3.htm" title="Titus 3">◄</a> Philemon 1 <a href="../hebrews/1.htm" title="Hebrews 1">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_1"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.1" class="v57_1_1">1</span>From Paul, who is in jail for serving Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is like a brother because of our faith.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_1">Philemon, you work with us and are very dear to us. This letter is to you </span><span class="v57_1_2"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.2" class="v57_1_2">2</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Phlm.1.2!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> and to the church that meets in your home. It is also to our dear friend Apphia and to Archippus, who serves the Lord as we do.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_3"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.3" class="v57_1_3">3</span>I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!</span></p><h3 class="s1">Philemon's Love and Faith</h3><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_4"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.4" class="v57_1_4">4</span>Philemon, each time I mention you in my prayers, I thank God. </span><span class="v57_1_5"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.5" class="v57_1_5">5</span>I hear about your faith in our Lord Jesus and about your love for all God's people. </span><span class="v57_1_6"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.6" class="v57_1_6">6</span>As you share your faith with others, I pray they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us. </span><span class="v57_1_7"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.7" class="v57_1_7">7</span>My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me. It has also cheered the hearts of God's people.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus</h3><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_8"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.8" class="v57_1_8">8</span>Christ gives me the courage to tell you what to do. </span><span class="v57_1_9"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.9" class="v57_1_9">9</span>But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love. Yes, as someone<a href="#fn" id="link_Phlm.1.9!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> in jail for Christ, </span><span class="v57_1_10"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.10" class="v57_1_10">10</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Phlm.1.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> I beg you to help Onesimus!<a href="#fn" id="link_Phlm.1.10!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> He is like a son to me because I led him to Christ here in jail. </span><span class="v57_1_11"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.11" class="v57_1_11">11</span>Before this, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_12"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.12" class="v57_1_12">12</span>Sending Onesimus back to you makes me very sad. </span><span class="v57_1_13"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.13" class="v57_1_13">13</span>I would like to keep him here with me, where he could take your place in helping me while I am here in prison for preaching the good news. </span><span class="v57_1_14"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.14" class="v57_1_14">14</span>But I won't do anything unless you agree to it first. I want your act of kindness to come from your heart, and not be something you feel forced to do.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_15"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.15" class="v57_1_15">15</span>Perhaps Onesimus was taken from you for a little while so you could have him back for good, </span><span class="v57_1_16"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.16" class="v57_1_16">16</span>but not as a slave. Onesimus is much more than a slave. To me he is a dear friend, but to you he is even more, both as a person and as a follower of the Lord.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_17"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.17" class="v57_1_17">17</span>If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. </span><span class="v57_1_18"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.18" class="v57_1_18">18</span>If he has cheated you or owes you anything, charge it to my account. </span><span class="v57_1_19"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.19" class="v57_1_19">19</span>With my own hand I write: I, PAUL, WILL PAY YOU BACK. But don't forget you owe me your life. </span><span class="v57_1_20"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.20" class="v57_1_20">20</span>My dear friend and follower of Christ our Lord, please cheer me up by doing this for me.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_21"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.21" class="v57_1_21">21</span>I am sure you will do all I have asked, and even more. </span><span class="v57_1_22"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.22" class="v57_1_22">22</span>Please get a room ready for me. I hope your prayers will be answered, and I can visit you.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_23"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.23" class="v57_1_23">23</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Phlm.1.23!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Epaphras is also here in jail for being a follower of Christ Jesus. He sends his greetings, </span><span class="v57_1_24"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.24" class="v57_1_24">24</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Phlm.1.24!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who work together with me.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v57_1_25"><span class="reftext" id="Phlm.1.25" class="v57_1_25">25</span>I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you!</span></p> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">9 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">someone: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Greek “a messenger” or “an old man.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">10 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Onesimus: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In Greek this name means “useful.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at <a href="http://www.get.bible/cev">www.get.bible/cev</a></span></p><br /><br /><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /><br /><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../titus/3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Titus 3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Titus 3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../hebrews/1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hebrews 1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hebrews 1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/philemon/1-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>