OrthJBC - Philemon - 1

1:1  Sha'ul, a prisoner of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua and Timotiyos acheinu [(our) brother]. To Philemon ha'ahuv (the beloved) and our fellow po'el (worker)

1:2  and to Apphia achoteinu (our sister) and to Archippus our chaver leneshek (comrade-in-arms) and to the kehillah in your house.

1:3  Chesed Hashem and shalom Hashem to you from Elohim Avinu and from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua. THE AHAVAH AND EMUNAH OF PHILEMON

1:4  I always offer a berucha to my G-d when I mention you in my tefillos (prayers),

1:5  because I hear of your ahavah (agap‚) and emunah, which you have for Yehoshua Adoneinu and for all the kedoshim.

1:6  (I pray) that your emunah (emunah) being shared in Moshiach's kiruv rechokim (bringing near the far away ones) may become effective in a knowledge of every mitzva we may do for Moshiach.

1:7  For I had simcha gedolah (much joy) and chizuk (encouragement) because of your ahavah, for the hearts of the kedoshim have been refreshed through you, ach b'Moshiach. AN APPEAL FOR ONESIMUS; RAV SHA'UL PREFERS NOT TO MECHAYEV (COMPEL) HIM TO DO WHAT IS HIS CHOVAH MUSARIT

1:8  Therefore, though I have much boldness in Moshiach that I could in fact order you to do your chovah musarit (moral duty) of avodas hakodesh (holy service),

1:9  yet I would rather make an appeal on the mekor (basis) of ahavah (agape)--I, Sha'ul, the Zaken (Elder) but also a prisoner of Moshiach Yehoshua. ON BEING A "USEFUL" KELI KODESH (MINISTER)

1:10  I appeal to you concerning beni, having "fathered" him (to a new birth) while in bais hasohar (prison)--that is, Onesimus (trans. note: means "Useful")

1:11  --the one once "Useless" to you, but, now, both to you and to me--"Useful."

1:12  I am sending him who is my very lev (heart) back to you.

1:13  I was wanting to detain him with me, in order that he might function as a keli kodesh (minister), ministering to me in your place, as your murshe (proxy), while I'm detained in the imprisonment of the Besuras HaGeulah.

1:14  But I wanted to do nothing without your haskamah (consent), in order that the mitzva you do might not be meshabed (caused to be obligated) or forced but voluntary.

1:15  Eppes (perhaps) he was separated from you for a while in order that you might have him back for Yamim haOlam,

1:16  no longer as a bond-servant, but, more than a bond-servant, an ach ahuv (a beloved brother), especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in Adoneinu.

1:17  So if you consider me a chaver (partner), receive him as you would me.

1:18  But if in anything he wronged you or owes you, charge this to my account.

1:19  I, Sha'ul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay. This is not to merken (draw attention) to the fact that you owe me your very neshamah.

1:20  Yes, ach baMoshiach, I would have some "usefulness" from you in Adoneinu. Refresh my lev in Moshiach.

1:21  Confident of you as one who is shomer mitzvot, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even above what I say.

1:22  Also, this too, prepare a heimishe mekom linah (guest room, lodging place) for me, for I have the tikvah (hope) that through your tefillos I will be restored to you. SHALOM GREETINGS FROM SOME OF THE INSPIRED AUTHORS OF THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BRIT CHADASHA AND ALSO GREETINGS FROM OTHER KLEI KODESH (MINISTERS)

1:23  Epaphras, my co-prisoner in Moshiach Yehoshua, sends "Shalom" greetings to you.

1:24  And Markos, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lukas, my fellow po'alim (workers), do as well.

1:25  The Chesed Hashem of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua be with your neshamah.