Which Bible translation is shown on Philemon 1?

This page reproduces the public-domain World English Bible Protestant edition.

How should I cite a verse in Philemon 1?

Use the book, chapter, and verse, and name the World English Bible when the wording matters.

Philemon 1 (WEB) — Full Text

New Testament

Philemon 1

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

2to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

6that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

9yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,

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

12I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

13whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

14But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

15For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,

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

17If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

18But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.

19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

22Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

A personal appeal reframes status and reconciliation around family in Christ. Read Philemon 1 within the complete Philemon overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Philemon 1

Philemon 1 contains 25 verses and about 422 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 25 closes: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include christ, brother, fellow, will, paul, prisoner. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Philemon 1

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Philemon 1:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.