PHM 1:8-22

Paulʼs Appeal for Onesimus

8Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to order you what is fitting,

9on account of love I rather appeal — being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus —

10I appeal to you concerning my child, whom I begot in the chains, Onesimus,

11who once to you was useless, but now to you and to me is useful, Onesimus,

12whom I have sent back to you — him, that is, my own heart —

13whom I myself was wishing to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in the chains of the gospel,

14but apart from your opinion I wished to do nothing, that your good might not be as out of necessity, but out of willingness.

15For perhaps on account of this he was separated for an hour, that you might have him forever,

16no longer as a slave, but above a slave, a beloved brother — especially to me, but how much more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.

17If therefore you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

18But if anything he wronged you, or owes, this charge to me.

19I, Paul, write with my own hand: I will repay; that I am not saying to you that you owe even yourself to me besides.

20Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21Having been persuaded of your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that even beyond what I say you will do.

22But at the same time also prepare for me a guest room; for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman household system, slaves like Onesimus were considered property, with no legal rights or personal autonomy. Runaway slaves faced severe punishment, including branding, flogging, or even death. Paul’s letter to Philemon operates within this framework but subverts it by appealing to Philemon’s honor and Christian obligation. Paul uses (boldness), a term tied to the Greco-Roman ideal of frank speech among equals, to frame his request not as a command but as a plea rooted in love. By calling Onesimus his (child), Paul emphasizes a spiritual father-son relationship, elevating Onesimus’s status beyond that of a mere slave. The wordplay on Onesimus’s name (from , useless, to , useful) underscores his transformation in Christ, making him valuable to both Paul and Philemon. Paul’s use of (heart) conveys deep emotional attachment, appealing to Philemon’s compassion. This letter reflects the tension between Roman social norms and the early Christian ethic of brotherhood in Christ.

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How other translations render this

PHM 1:8

KJV: Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
BSB: So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
Koinōnos: Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to order you what is fitting,

PHM 1:9

KJV: 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.
BSB: I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
Koinōnos: on account of love I rather appeal — being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus —

PHM 1:10

KJV: I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
BSB: I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
Koinōnos: I appeal to you concerning my child, whom I begot in the chains, Onesimus,

PHM 1:11

KJV: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
BSB: Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Koinōnos: who once to you was useless, but now to you and to me is useful, Onesimus,

PHM 1:12

KJV: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
BSB: I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
Koinōnos: whom I have sent back to you — him, that is, my own heart —

PHM 1:13

KJV: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
BSB: I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
Koinōnos: whom I myself was wishing to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in the chains of the gospel,

PHM 1:14

KJV: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
BSB: But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
Koinōnos: but apart from your opinion I wished to do nothing, that your good might not be as out of necessity, but out of willingness.

PHM 1:15

KJV: For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
BSB: For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
Koinōnos: For perhaps on account of this he was separated for an hour, that you might have him forever,

PHM 1:16

KJV: Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
BSB: no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
Koinōnos: no longer as a slave, but above a slave, a beloved brother — especially to me, but how much more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.

PHM 1:17

KJV: If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
BSB: So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Koinōnos: If therefore you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

PHM 1:18

KJV: If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
BSB: But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
Koinōnos: But if anything he wronged you, or owes, this charge to me.

PHM 1:19

KJV: I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
BSB: I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Koinōnos: I, Paul, write with my own hand: I will repay; that I am not saying to you that you owe even yourself to me besides.

PHM 1:20

KJV: Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
BSB: Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Koinōnos: Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

PHM 1:21

KJV: Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
BSB: Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Koinōnos: Having been persuaded of your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that even beyond what I say you will do.

PHM 1:22

KJV: But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
BSB: In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Koinōnos: But at the same time also prepare for me a guest room; for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

PHM 1:8

boldness:The word translated 'boldness' here implies a freedom of speech and directness, often used in contexts of public address or confident assertion, rather than mere courage.

PHM 1:10

child:The term translated 'child' can refer to a literal offspring, but in this context, it is used metaphorically to describe a spiritual offspring, someone brought to faith through Paul's ministry.

PHM 1:11

useless:The word translated 'useless' means unprofitable or unserviceable, highlighting a lack of benefit or utility, which is contrasted with Onesimus's new usefulness.

PHM 1:12

my:The word translated 'my' is part of an idiom referring to one's innermost feelings or affections, literally meaning 'my entrails' or 'my heart,' indicating deep emotional attachment.