Philemon

The Epistle of St. Paul to Philemon

English (Douay-Rheims)

Philemon, a noble citizen of Colossa, had a servant named Onesimus, who robbed him and fled to Rome, where he met St. Paul, who was then a prisoner there the first time. The apostle took compassion on him and received him with tenderness and converted him to the faith; for he was a Gentile before. St. Paul sends him back to his master with this Epistle in his favour: and though he beseeches Philemon to pardon him, yet the Apostle writes with becoming dignity and authority. It contains divers profitable instructions and points out the charity and humanity that masters should have for their servants. (For more information, see the article EPISTLE TO PHILEMON in the Catholic Encyclopedia.)

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer, 2 And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house. 3 Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers. 5 Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints: 6 That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work that is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus to command thee that which is to the purpose: 9 For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ. 10 I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus, 11 Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee but now is profitable both to me and thee: 12 Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels. 13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel. 14 But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee that thou mightest receive him again for ever: 16 Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me. But how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? 17 If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself. 18 And if he hath wronged thee in any thing or is in thy debt, put that to my account. 19 I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee that thou owest me thy own self also. 20 Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord! Refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21 Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus: 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow labourers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Paulus vinctus Christi Jesu, et Timotheus frater, Philemoni dilecto, et adjutori nostro, 2 et Appiæ sorori carissimæ, et Archippo commilitoni nostro, et ecclesiæ, quæ in domo tua est. 3 Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Patre nostro, et Domino Jesu Christo.

4 Gratias ago Deo meo, semper memoriam tui faciens in orationibus meis, 5 audiens caritatem tuam, et fidem, quam habes in Domino Jesu, et in omnes sanctos: 6 ut communicatio fidei tuæ evidens fiat in agnitione omnis operis boni, quod est in vobis in Christo Jesu. 7 Gaudium enim magnum habui, et consolationem in caritate tua: quia viscera sanctorum requieverunt per te, frater.

8 Propter quod multam fiduciam habens in Christo Jesu imperandi tibi quod ad rem pertinet: 9 propter caritatem magis obsecro, cum sis talis, ut Paulus senex, nunc autem et vinctus Jesu Christi: 10 obsecro te pro meo filio, quem genui in vinculis, Onesimo, 11 qui tibi aliquando inutilis fuit, nunc autem et mihi et tibi utilis, 12 quem remisi tibi. Tu autem illum, ut mea viscera, suscipe: 13 quem ego volueram mecum detinere, ut pro te mihi ministraret in vinculis Evangelii: 14 sine consilio autem tuo nihil volui facere, uti ne velut ex necessitate bonum tuum esset, sed voluntarium. 15 Forsitan enim ideo discessit ad horam a te, ut æternum illum reciperes: 16 jam non ut servum, sed pro servo carissimum fratrem, maxime mihi: quanto autem magis tibi et in carne, et in Domino? 17 Si ergo habes me socium, suscipe illum sicut me: 18 si autem aliquid nocuit tibi, aut debet, hoc mihi imputa. 19 Ego Paulus scripsi mea manu: ego reddam, ut non dicam tibi, quod et teipsum mihi debes: 20 ita, frater. Ego te fruar in Domino: refice viscera mea in Domino. 21 Confidens in obedientia tua scripsi tibi: sciens quoniam et super id, quod dico, facies.

22 Simul autem et para mihi hospitium: nam spero per orationes vestras donari me vobis. 23 Salutat te Epaphras concaptivus meus in Christo Jesu, 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, et Lucas, adjutores mei. 25 Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum spiritu vestro. Amen.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition