JMNT(i)
1 Paul, a bound-one of Christ Jesus (or: a prisoner pertaining to, because of and belonging to Christ Jesus), and Timothy, the brother, to Philemon, the loved one, and our fellow worker,
2 and to Apphia, the sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the called-out community which corresponds to (or: down in; = at) your house:
3 Grace (the influence and boon of undeserved favor, kindness, joy and goodwill) and peace (or: harmony; [= shalom]) from God, our Father and Lord: Jesus Christ (or: from our Father God, and [the] Owner, Jesus [the] Anointed One [= Messiah]).
4 I always and progressively give thanks to (or: for; with) my God (or: experience gratitude in my God; express the ease of grace in my God; experience the happy fortune of abundant grace by my God; observe my God's competent and prosperous grace), repeatedly forming a recollection of you upon my prayers (or: habitually making mention concerning you, upon my thinking and speaking toward having things go well, and projecting goodness, ease and well-being),
5 constantly hearing of your love and faith (or: of the love and the loyal, trusting allegiance which is associated with you [and]) which you are continuously holding (or: having) toward [other MSS: {projected} into] the Lord Jesus and unto all the set-apart folks,
6 so that the common existence, sharing, partnership, fellowship and participation of your faith, trust and loyalty can come to be inwardly operative (may birth itself active, energized and effective) within a full and accurate intimate and experiential knowledge and insight of every good thing (or: of all virtue) – of that within us [other MSS: you] [directed and leading] into Christ (or: into the midst of [the] Anointing)!
7 For you see, I have much joy and comfort (relief; consolation; encouragement – the provision from a paraclete), based upon your love, because the compassions (tender affections of the very inner being; inward parts; intestines) of the set-apart people (the saints; the holy ones) have been soothed and refreshed (caused to rest again), through you, brother (= my fellow believer and Family member),
8 through which (or: on account of which), continuing in having much boldness and freedom of speech inherent in citizenship within Christ to be repeatedly setting-on and fully arranging the thing (or: the situation) for you to be habitually coming back up to (or: = to be proceeding in progressively laying out what is proper and fitting behavior for you)
9 [and] because of this love, I – being such a one as Paul, an old man, yet now also a bound-one (or: prisoner) of Christ Jesus – am rather now progressively calling [you] alongside to comfort, encourage and entreat (or: appeal):
10 I am now calling you to [my] side to encourage and entreat (or: appeal to) you about my child (born-one), whom I, myself, gave birth to within my bonds: Onesimus (means: Useful),
11 the one once useless (unprofitable) to and for you, yet now abundantly and easily useful and profitable to and for you as well as to and for me,
12 him whom I sent back again to you – this person exists being my inward parts (tender affections and compassions; intestines; = he is a part of my very heart) – you, yourself, reach toward, take in your arms, and receive hospitably;
13 [he] whom I, myself, had been intending (or: would have liked) to continue holding down (to continue retaining) to myself, so that over you (or: on your behalf) he could continue giving service to me, within the bonds of the message of goodness (the ideal message of ease; the happy, beautiful and prospering tidings).
14 Yet, apart from your opinion (consent; the effect of your intimate, experiential knowledge), I purposed to do nothing, to the end that your goodness (virtue) may and would not be as accords with necessity (or: as along the lines of compulsion or the force of compression; thus: obligation), but to the contrary, corresponding to what is from out of your being (on the level of being spontaneous and voluntary).
15 For perhaps (possibly) on account of this he was separated (parted; dissociated; or, a euphemism?: = ran away?) for an hour (= for a brief time), to the end that you could (may; would) for a lifetime (age-lastingly; or: in the character of the Age [of the Messiah]) fully have him (or: continue receiving full benefits from holding him) –
16 no longer as a slave, but in contrast, above (over; = more than) a slave: a dearly loved brother (= fellow believer; = member of [His] family), most of all (especially) by and to me, yet how much rather by and to you, both in [the] flesh (= in person; or: = in the natural realm) as well as within [the] Lord [= in Christ or Yahweh]!
17 Since (or: If), then, you continue holding (having) me a partner (a fellow participant; a sharer; one equally belonging and in communion), reach toward and receive him in your arms (= take him as a partner), as [you would] (or: like) me.
18 Now if he did you any wrong (anything contrary to the Way pointed out; anything unfair or inequitable) or continues indebted, charge this account to me.
19 I, Paul, write this (= spell this out) myself – with my own hand. I, myself, will proceed in paying it off. This is not to say that I am presently saying to you that you continue owing toward me even yourself!
20 Yes, brother (= fellow believer), I, myself, might derive advantage (receive benefit or profit; enjoy help, support and delight) of you (from you as a source) – in [the] Lord! Soothe and refresh (cause to rest again) my tender affections (inward parts; compassions; intestines) within Christ (in union with the Anointed One).
21 Having confidence (Having come to a settled persuasion) in your submissive hearing, paying attention and obedience, I write to you – having seen and thus knowing that you will proceed in doing even above (over; = more than) the things which I now am saying.
22 Now at the same time, also proceed to prepare and set in readiness a guest quarter (or: lodging) for me, for I am increasingly expecting that – through the projected thoughts and words with a view to having things go well (or: prayers) from you folks – I will, from favor, proceed being graciously given to you people.
23 Epaphras, my fellow captive within Christ Jesus, continues embracing and greeting you,
24 [also] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, [and] Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace (the influence and boon of non-deserved favor, kindness, joy and goodwill) of our Lord, Jesus Christ, [is] with the spirit of you folks. It is so (or: The act producing joy and happiness, which was granted as a favor from our Owner, Jesus [the] Anointed One [= Messiah]), [is] with your breath, and in accompany with your attitude. Count on it; Amen)! [written circa A.D. 58 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]