The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

THE EPISTLE OF of Paul to Philemon.

THE ARGVMENT.

ALbeit the excellencie of Pauls spirit wonderfully appeareth in other his Epistles, yet this Epistle is a greate witnes, and a declaration of the same For farre passing the basenes of his matter, he fleeth as it were vp to heauen, and spea∣keth with a diuine grace and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Onesimus seruant to Philemon bothe robbed his master, and fled away, whome Paul hauing wonne to Christ, sent againe to his master, earnestly begging his pardone, with moste waightie arguments prouing the duetie of one Christian to another, and so with salutacions endeth.

5 He reioyceth to heare of the faith and loue of Philemon 9 whome he desireth to forgiue his seruant Onesimus, and louingly to receiue him ag 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

1 PAVL a prisoner of Iesus Christ, & (our) brother Timotheus vnto Philemon our dere friend, and fel∣low helper.

2 And to (our) dere (sister) Apphia, and to Archippus our felowe souldier, and to the Churche that is in thine house.

3 Grace (be) with you, and peace from GOD our Father, and (from) the Lord Iesus Christ.

4 I* giue thankes to my God, making mēcion alwaies of thee in my prayers.

5 [When I heare of thy loue and faith, which thou hast towarde the Lord Iesus, and to w∣arde all Saintes]

6 That thea felowship of thy faith may be made fruteful, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in youb through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.

7 For we haue great ioye and consolacion in in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintesc hearts are comforted.

8 Wherefore, thogh I be verie bolde in Christ to commande thee that which is cōuenient.

9 (Yet) for loues sake I rather beseche thee, thogh I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen now a prisoner for Iesus Christ.

10 I beseche thee for my sonne* Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes.

11 Whiche in time past was to thee vnprofita∣ble, but now profitable bothe to thee, and to me,

12 Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receine him, that is mine owne bowels.

13 Whome I wolde haue reteined with me, that in thy stede he might haue ministred vn∣to me in the bondes of the Gospel.

14 But without thy minde wolde. I do nothyng that thy benefite shulde not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.

15 It may be that he therefored departed for a ceason, that thou shuldest receiue hym for euer.

16 eNot now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, (euen as) a brother beloued, specially to me: how muche more than vnto thee, bothe in the flesh, and the Lord?

17 If therefore thou counte our thingsf com∣mune, receiue him as my self.

18 If he hathe hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accountes.

19 I Paul haue written (this) with mine owne hand: I wil recompense it, albeit I do not say to thee, that thou owest vnto me euen thine owne self.

20 Yea, brother, let me obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comforte myg bo wels in the Lord.

21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wiltdo euen more then I say.

22 Moreouer also prepare 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lodgyng: for I trust through your prayers I shalbe giuen vnto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras my fellowe pri sonerh in Christ Iesus.

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, (and) Luke, my fellowe helpers.

25 The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe (be) with your spirit.

Amen.

Written from Rome to Philemon, (and sent) by Onesimus a seruant.

Notes

• 1. Thes. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• 2. Thes. 1, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• a

  Thy beneuolen ce towarde the Saintes whiche procedeth of a liuelie and effe∣ctual faith.
• b

  That experiēce may declare that you are the mem bers of Iesus Christ
• c

  Meaning their in warde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and affections were through his charitie com∣forted.
• Colos. 4. 9.
• d

  He fled away from thee.
• e

  For he is thy seruant by con∣dicion, and also now the Lords so that bothe for thine owne sake ād for the Lords thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to loue him.
• f

  That althine is mine, ād al mine is thine.
• g

  Grant me this benefite, whiche shalbe most ac∣ceptable vnto me of all others.
• h

  That is for Christs cause.