Translation: Philemon

A translation with notes on grammar & content

This translation was done for a class in grad school (PTSem), NT3310 Paul the Pastor. I have provided some explanatory notes on grammar for clarity, but this particular epistle is rather short. So, there is little I have to add as far as explanatory notes on grammar. This letter is rather straight forward, so I do not have much to explain either.

As I stated in my 1 Thessalonians piece: my translation style has always been to preserve the Greek flavor as much as possible, so I do not smooth out what some might consider stylistically awkward English.

Salutations

|1| Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and coworker, |2| and to our sister Apphia and Archippo our fellow soldier and to your house church,¹ |3| Grace to you and peace from God our father and Lord Jesus Christ.

Addressing Philemon

|4| I give thanks² to my God always when I remember³ you in my prayers—|5| since I have heard⁴ of your love and faith, which you have toward our Lord Jesus and for all the saints—|6| so that⁵ the sharing of your faith might become effective by the knowledge of all the good which is in us for Christ. |7| For I have much joy and comfort because of your love, since the hearts of the saints have been revived through you, brother.

On Behalf of Onesimus

|8| For this reason, though I am⁶ quite confident in Christ to command you what is proper, |9| on account of my love, I rather implore you, since such a one as I, Paul, am⁷ an ambassador⁸ and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

|10| I implore you concerning my child, whom I beget in my chains, Onesimos, |11| the (one who was) formerly useless to you, but now useful [both] to you and to me, |12| whom I sent to you—this one himself is my own heart⁹—|13| whom I wished to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf in my chains for¹⁰ the Good News, (14) but apart from your approval, I desired to do nothing, in order that your good action might not be out of¹¹ compulsion, but by your own volition.

|15| For perhaps on account of this he left for a time, in order that you might receive him back forever,¹² |16| no longer as a slave, but beyond a slave, a beloved brother, especially for me, but how much more for you both in the flesh and in the Lord. |17| If then you consider¹³ me a companion, receive him as (you would receive)¹⁴ me.

|18| And if he has wronged you or owes you, charge this to my account. |19| I Paul wrote (this) with my own hand. I will pay the damage in order that I not say to you that you yourself are indebted¹⁵ to me. |20| Yes, brother, might I have a profit¹⁶ from you in the Lord; revive my heart in Christ.

Conclusion

|21| Since I trust in¹⁷ your obedience, I wrote to you, because I know¹⁸ that you will do beyond that which I say. |22| And at the same time also prepare a guestroom for me, for I hope that through your¹⁹ prayers I will be given graciously to you.

|23| Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you; Markos, Aristarchos, Demas, Loukas, my coworkers, (also greet you).²⁰

|15| The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your²¹ spirit.

---

For more translation work and information on Paul & the New Testament, would you kindly subscribe?

1. Gk. τῇ κατʼ οἶκόν σου ἐκκλησίᾳ, lit. “to the Church according to your house” or “in your house.”

2. Just a note on lexicography, the word for “I give thanks” is Εὐχαριστῶ, which is the derivation of the word Eucharist. There is not eucharistic connotations here, which is what I want to establish. Just because a word may share a root with a loaded term in modern theology does not necessarily mean there is a direct relation in the text.

3. Circumstantial Participle: Temporal. Also, paraphrastic of ποιέω + verbal noun. More literally, “making your memory” or “making memory of you.”

4. Circumstantial Participle: Causal.

5.  ὅπως + subj., purpose clause. I have added the em-dashes so that it is a little more apparent what the “so that” means. It is the purpose of the prayer. RSV has, “and I pray that…” which may be a bit misleading, since “I pray” is not in the Greek. It seems to be the most logical answer, but one could argue “I give thanks… so that…”

6. Circumstantial Participle: Concessive.

7. Circumstantial Participle: Causal.

8. Gk. πρεσβύτης. Typically “old man.” It can also be used for “priest,” but that is not the meaning here.

RSV has “ambassador”; NRSV has “old man.” It seems odd to me for Paul to appeal to his age as an argument here, but it certainly could be the case.

9. I chose not to translate this as beloved since it is lexically different from what Paul calls Philemon in 1:1.

10. I am making a decision here that this is an objective genitive. The choices,

Subjective Genitive: in my Gospel’s chains…

Objective Genitive: in my chains for the Gospel…

11. This is a bit free. Lit. “as according to necessity/compulsion.”

12. Duration of time and space are expressed in the accusative case.

13. BDAG ἔχω: ⑥ to have an opinion about someth., consider, look upon, view w. acc. as obj. and predicate acc.

14. The ὡς indicates that ellipses is occurring in this verse.

15. Notice the switch in verbs: ὀφειλέω, for Onesiumus, to προσοφείλω, for Philemon. LSJ reads,

A.owe besides or still, “ἔτι πολλά” Th.7.48; “διακόσια τάλαντα” Plu.Alex.15; “π. σοι ἄλλας χάριτας” X.Cyr.3.2.16, cf. D.3.31, 23.89, IG22.1623.54; “τὸ λοιπὸν ὃ προσοφείλεις μοι” PHib.1.63.14 (iii B.C.), cf. PCair.Zen.150.17 (iii B.C.), OGI90.13 (Rosetta, ii B.C.), etc.: abs., “προσοφείλοντας ἡμᾶς ἐνέγραψεν” D.27.38 (divisim):— Pass., to be still owing, “ὁ προσοφειλόμενος μισθός” Th.8.45, cf. SIG410.18 (Erythrae, iii B.C.); ἡ ἔχθρη ἡ προσοφειλομένη ἐς Ἀθηναίους ἐκ τῶν Αἰγινητέων the hatred which was still due from the Aeginetans to the Athenians, i.e. their ancient feud, Hdt.5.82 (v.l. for προοφ-).

II. to be behindhand, Plb.38.8.6.

The implication of the word is indebted, i.e., late payments. Philemon has not paid Paul back yet for a service.

This is a rhetorical tactic to guilt or manipulate Philemon to do what Paul wants. It would be equivalent to saying, “and I’m not even going to mention how I saved your soul, Philemon, when I baptized you,” which is most likely what Paul is referencing.

16. I may be stretching the verb to mean “profit,” as in financial gain. I believer this is playing off of “owing” and “indebted,” but I’d have to conduct a further word study. It is not obvious from LSJ or BDAG. It could simply mean “benefit” with no financial insinuation.

17. Circumstantial Participle: Causal. BDAG πείθω: 2. ⓐ depend on, trust in w. dat. of pers. or thing.

18. Circumstantial Participle: Causal.

19. There is a switch here to the pl. here and at the end of the verse.

20. I have chosen to retain Paul's syntax, so I must supply the verb again.

21. Again, the “you” is plural.