# Philemon 1.15-16 **Book:** [Philemon](/codex/philemon/) · NASB95 ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 13. whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14. but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. > > **15. For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; 16. no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.** > > 17. If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself. 18. But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account; (Philemon 1:13-18, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 13. whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 14. But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. > > **15. For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, 16. no 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.** > > 17. If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18. But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. (Philemon 1:13-18, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 13. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14. But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. > > **15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16. Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?** > > 17. If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; (Philemon 1:13-18, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 13. whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news, 14. and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness, > > **15. for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him, 16. no more as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!** > > 17. If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me, 18. and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning; (Philemon 1:13-18, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** _TBD_ - **Audience:** _TBD_ - **Location:** _TBD_ - **Time period:** _TBD_ ## Theological reading _Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._ ## Key words _Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._ - [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), *aionios*, Strong's G0166 - [G1401 - doulos](/codex/g1401-doulos/), *doulos*, Strong's G1401 - [G4561 - sarx](/codex/g4561-sarx/), *sarx*, Strong's G4561 - [G4314 - pros](/codex/g4314-pros/), *pros*, Strong's G4314 - [G2962 - kyrios](/codex/g2962-kyrios/), *kyrios*, Strong's G2962 ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Biblical Slavery Objection Defeater](/codex/biblical-slavery-objection-defeater/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Christianity Is the White Mans Religion Objection Defeater](/codex/christianity-is-the-white-mans-religion-objection-defeater/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Christians Behaving Badly Defeater](/codex/christians-behaving-badly-defeater/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Islamic Sex Slavery Objection Defeater](/codex/islamic-sex-slavery-objection-defeater/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Israelite Slavery Possession-vs-Ownership Defeater](/codex/israelite-slavery-possession-vs-ownership-defeater/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) **Concepts:** - [Atheism](/codex/atheism/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Biblical Slavery Objection](/codex/biblical-slavery-objection/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Black People Shouldnt Be Christian](/codex/black-people-shouldnt-be-christian/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Chattel Slavery vs Biblical Servitude](/codex/chattel-slavery-vs-biblical-servitude/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Christians Behaving Badly](/codex/christians-behaving-badly/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Defining Chattel Slavery and Biblical Servitude](/codex/defining-chattel-slavery-and-biblical-servitude/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Ethical Trajectory Hermeneutic](/codex/ethical-trajectory-hermeneutic/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [No True Scotsman Fallacy](/codex/no-true-scotsman-fallacy/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Slavery](/codex/slavery/), via [Philemon 1.16](/codex/philemon-1-16/), [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) - [Verses on Gods Goodness and Human Worth](/codex/verses-on-gods-goodness-and-human-worth/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) **People:** - [John Chrysostom](/codex/john-chrysostom/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) **Lexicon:** - [G1401 - doulos](/codex/g1401-doulos/), via [Philemon 16](/codex/philemon-16/) ## Notes _Your annotations._ ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.