ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Philemon 1.16

Book: Philemon · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"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 1:14-18, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"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 1:14-18, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"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 1:14-18, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"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 1:14-18, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Paul the Apostle (imprisonment) + Timothy
  • Audience: Philemon (Christian slaveowner in Colossae)
  • Location: composed during Roman imprisonment
  • Time period: composed c. AD 60-62

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • 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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.