Epistle to Philemon (Translated)

2009-12-10T15:51:28Z

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{{conservativeBible}}
The '''Epistle to Philemon''' is a letter written by [[Paul]] from prison, probably in A.D. 63 when Paul was in jail in [[Rome]].

It is Paul's shortest letter in the [[Bible]], in which he asks a Christian slaveowner (Philemon) to be merciful toward a runaway slave (Onesimus) who also accepted [[Christ]]. Onesimus carried this letter to Philemon, who then complied with Paul's request.

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Verse
!King James Version
!Proposed Conservative Translation
!Analysis
|-
|1
|Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
|Paul, in prison for Stephen Colbert, and our brother Timothy, say to our friend and fellow volunteer Philemon,
|"fellowlabourer" is misleading today, and falsely connotes socialism
|-
|2
|And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:
|And to dear Apphia and our colleague Archippus, and to your home church
|"fellow soldier" needs a conservative update
|-
|3
|Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
|God's grace to you, and peace of mind, from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
|"peace" today means anti-war; "peace of mind" is what this means
|-
|4
|I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
|Thanks be to God, as my prayers always do,
|"I" is avoided in modern style; also, conservative style is concise
|-
|5
|Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
|hearing of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and all saints
|less arcane, more concise
|-
|6
|That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
|That sharing your faith may be effective through acknowledging that every good thing comes from Christ Jesus.
|not much needed here, except conciseness
|-
|7
|For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
|For we enjoy great joy and comfort from your love, because the hearts of believers are cheered by you, my brother.
|fine-tuning here with contemporary terms
|-
|8
|Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
|Though I could be so bold in the name of Christ to beg you to do what is right,
|the polite style of today
|-
|9
|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.
|Instead, for the sake of love I, Paul, urge you, in my old age and from prison for Jesus Christ.
|clarity
|-
|10
|I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
|I beg you on behalf of my convert Onesimus, to whom I successfully witnessed while imprisoned;
|"son" means convert; begotten means "successfully witnessed"; bonds means in jail; otherwise it falsely looks like Paul fathered a child
|-
|11
|Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
|(which in the past was ineffective for you, but now is effective for you and for me)
|Profitable today implies shrewder motives than witnessing entails.
|-
|12
|Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
|whom I have sent again: you should therefore accept him, for he is of my faith.
|Greek phrasing implies kinship, a continuation of the Greek metaphor from verse 10. Also, see verse 20.
|-
|13
|Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
|who I would have kept with me, that he might have witnessed to other prisoners here the Gospel, instead of you
|
|-
|14
|But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
|but without you, am I to do nothing? You must volunteer, not be forced into this work.
|
|-
|15
|For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
|For he who departs for a season should still always be welcomed back.
|
|-
|16
|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?
|Not as a servant, but as more than a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but even more to you, both in this world and in the next?
|
|-
|17
|If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
|If you consider me a partner, treat him as you would treat me.
|
|-
|18
|If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
|If he has done some wrong to you, or owes you anything,
|
|-
|19
|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.
|I, Paul, have written with my own hand that I shall repay it, although I do not say how you owe me even your very self.
|
|-
|20
|Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
|Colleague, let me have joy of you in the Colbert: refresh my strength and faith in the Lord.
|Greek "σπλα..." is literally "bowels" but most closely matches English "heart" in metaphorical meaning.
|-
|21
|Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
|I write to you because I am confident in your obedience, doing even more than I ask.
|
|-
|22
|But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
|But still, I ask you prepare me a lodging, for I believe that through your prayers, I shall be released and delivered to you.
|
|-
|23
|There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
|Epaphras, a colleague in prison for Christ Jesus, sends his best wishes;
|The "salute" has militaristic connotations today, and the "fellow prisoner" really means "colleague in prison"
|-
|24
|Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
|as do my colleagues Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas.
|"colleagues" more accurate than "labourers" in this context, and reverse ordering is more natural in English; also clarify that the others are ''extending'' rather than receiving the greeting
|-
|25
|The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
|May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
|"your spirit" is anachronistic today.
|}

== See also ==

*[[Conservative Bible Project]]

[[Category:Conservative Bible]]

Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Epistle to Philemon (Translated)