Hearing of Philemon's virtue, who was a Colossian, he writeth a familiar letter from Rome (being prisoner there) about his fugitive servant Onesimus: not doubting but that he might command him, yet rather requesting that he will forgive him, yea and receive him as he would Paul himself, who also hopeth to come unto him.Hearing of Philemons vertue, who was a Colossian, he writeth a familiar letter from Rome (being prisoner there) about his fugitiue seruant Onesimus: not doubting but that he might command him, yet rather requesting that he wil forgiue him, yea and receiue him as he would Paul him self, who also hopeth to come vnto him.✦
Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus, and brother Timothy: to Philemon the beloved and our adjutori: a fellow-helper, assistant,PAVL the prisoner of Christ IESVS, and brother Timothee: to Philémon the beloued and our coadiutor,✦Paulus vinctus Christi Jesu, et Timotheus frater, Philemoni dilecto, et adjutori nostro,
2and to Appia our dearest sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier and to the church which is in thy house.& to Appia our deerest sister, & to Archippus our felow-souldiar and to the church which is in thy house.et Appiæ sorori carissimæ, et Archippo commilitoni nostro, et ecclesiæ, quæ in domo tua est.
3Grace to you and peace from God our father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.Grace to you and peace from God our father, and our Lord IESVS Christ.Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo.
4I give thanks to my God, always making a memory of thee in my prayers,I giue thankes to my God, alwaies making a memorie of thee in my praiers,✦Gratias ago Deo meo, semper memoriam tui faciens in orationibus meis,
5hearing thy charity and faith which thou hast in our Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints:hearing thy charitie and faith which thou hast in our Lord IESVS, and toward al the sainctes:¶audiens caritatem tuam, et fidem, quam habes in Domino Jesu, et in omnes sanctos :
6that the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the agnitione: acknowledgment, recognition of all good that is in you in Christ Jesus.that the communication of thy faith may be made euident in the agnition of al good that is in you in Christ IESVS.✦ut communicatio fidei tuæ evidens fiat in agnitione omnis operis boni, quod est in vobis in Christo Jesu.
7For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the viscera: tender affections, the heart as the seat of compassion of the saints have rested by thee brother.For I haue had great ioy and consolation in thy charitie, because the bowels of the sainctes haue rested by thee brother.✦Gaudium enim magnum habui, et consolationem in caritate tua : quia viscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.
8For the which thing having great confidence in Christ Jesus to command thee that which pertaineth to the purpose:For the which thing hauing great confidence in Christ IESVS to command thee that which pertaineth to the purpose:✦Propter quod multam fiduciam habens in Christo Jesu imperandi tibi quod ad rem pertinet :
9for charity rather I beseech, whereas thou art such an one, as Paul being old and now prisoner also of Jesus Christ.for charitie rather I beseeche, whereas thou art such an one, as Paul being old and now prisoner also of IESVS Christ.✦propter caritatem magis obsecro, cum sis talis, ut Paulus senex, nunc autem et vinctus Jesu Christi :
10I beseech thee for my son whom I have begotten in bands, Onesimus,I beseeche thee for my sonne whom I haue begotten in bandes, * Onesimus,✦obsecro te pro meo filio, quem genui in vinculis, Onesimo,
11who hath been aliquando: formerly, at one time, not "occasionally" unprofitable to thee, but now profitable both to me and thee,who hath been sometime vnprofitable to thee, but now profitable both to me & thee,qui tibi aliquando inutilis fuit, nunc autem et mihi et tibi utilis,
12whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as mine own bowels.whom I haue sent backe to thee. And do thou receiue him as mine owne bowels.✦quem remisi tibi. Tu autem illum, ut mea viscera, suscipe :
13whom I would have retained with me, that for thee he might minister to me in the bands of the Gospel:whom I would haue reteined with me, that for thee he might minister to me in the bandes of the Gospel:✦quem ego volueram mecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis Evangelii :
14but without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good might be not as it were of necessity, but voluntary.but without thy counsel I would doe nothing: that thy good might be not as it were of necessitie, but voluntarie.sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere, uti ne velut ex necessitate bonum tuum esset, sed voluntarium.
15For perhaps therefore he departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest take him again for ever,For perhaps therfore he departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest take him againe for euer,✦Forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam a te, ut æternum illum reciperes :
16now not as a servant, but pro: in place of, more than a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me, but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in our Lord?now not as a seruant, but for a seruant, a most deere brother, especially to me, but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in our Lord?jam non ut servum, sed pro servo carissimum fratrem, maxime mihi : quanto autem magis tibi et in carne, et in Domino ?
17If therefore thou take me for thy fellow: receive him as my self.If therfore thou take me for thy fellow: receiue him as my self.✦Si ergo habes me socium, suscipe illum sicut me :
18And if he hath hurt thee any thing or is in thy debt, that impute to me.And if he hath hurt thee any thing or is in thy dette, that impute to me.✦si autem aliquid nocuit tibi, aut debet, hoc mihi imputa.
19I Paul have written with mine own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thine own self also.I Paul haue written with mine owne hand: I wil repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thine owne self also.✦Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu : ego reddam, ut non dicam tibi, quod et teipsum mihi debes :
20Yea brother. God grant I may enjoy thee in our Lord. Refresh my bowels in our Lord.Yea brother. c God graunt I may enioy thee in our Lord. Refresh my bowels in our Lord.✦ita, frater. Ego te fruar in Domino : refice viscera mea in Domino.
21Trusting in thy obedience I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do above that also which I do say.Trusting in thy obedience I haue written to thee, knowing that thou wilt doe aboue that also which I do say.Confidens in obedientia tua scripsi tibi : sciens quoniam et super id, quod dico, facies.
22And withal provide me also a lodging. for I hope by your prayers that I shall be given to you.And withal prouide me also a lodging. for I hope by your praiers that I shal be giuen to you.✦Simul autem et para mihi hospitium : nam spero per orationes vestras donari me vobis.
23There salute thee Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus,There salute thee Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ IESVS,✦Salutat te Epaphras concaptivus meus in Christo Jesu,
24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke my coadjutors.Marke, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke my coadiutors.✦Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, et Lucas, adjutores mei.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.The grace of our Lord IESVS Christ be with your spirite. Amen.Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Amen.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
5Toward all the saints. The Apostle sticketh not to say, Charity and faith in Christ and all his Saints, which our captious Adversaries count in Catholic men's speeches and writings, very absurd, feigning that in all such we make no difference betwixt the love we bear to Christ, and the love we owe to our neighbours: betwixt the trust or belief we have in God, and that which we have in his holy Saints. Malice and contention doth so blind all Heretics.Toward al the sainctes. The Apostle sticketh not to say, Charitie and faith in Christ and al his Saincts, which our captious Aduersaries count in Catholike mens speaches and writings, very absurd, feining that in al such we make no difference betwixt the loue we beare to Christ, and the loue we owe to our neighbours: betwixt the trust or beleefe we haue in God, and that which we haue in his holy Saincts. Malice and contention doth so blinde al Heretikes.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.