unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
v88
Philemon
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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
unfoldingWord® Literal Text
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
unfoldingWord® Simplified Text
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
Table of Contents
Philemon
Philemon 1
Philemon 1:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:1ULT:
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy to Philemon, the beloved and our fellow worker,
UST:
{I,} Paul, am currently in prison for serving the Messiah, Jesus. I am here with Timothy, our fellow believer. {I am writing this letter} to {you,} Philemon. You also serve the Messiah, and we love you.
Where is Paul as he writes this letter?
Paul is in prison as he writes this letter.
To whom is this letter written?
This letter is written to Philemon, Paul’s dear friend and fellow-worker.
Philemon 1:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:2ULT:
and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
UST:
{I also write} to Apphia, our fellow believer, and to Archippus, who is {like} a soldier {in the way he serves the Messiah} with us. {I also write} to the group of believers that meets in your house.
In what kind of place is the church meeting?
The church is meeting in a house.
Philemon 1:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:3ULT:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
UST:
{I pray that} God our Father and our Lord Jesus the Messiah will continue to be kind to you all and make you peaceful.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:4ULT:
I always thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers,
UST:
When I pray, I always thank my God for you, {Philemon,}
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:5ULT:
hearing of your love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
UST:
because {people tell me} how much you trust in the Lord Jesus and how much you love him and all of God’s people.
Of what good characteristics has Paul heard about Philemon?
Paul has heard about Philemon’s love, faith in the Lord, and faithfulness toward all the saints.
Philemon 1:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:6ULT:
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of everything good {that is} among us for Christ.
UST:
I also pray that as you trust in the Messiah, just as we trust in him, you will understand even more all the good things the Messiah has given to us for serving him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:7ULT:
For I had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the inner parts of the saints are being refreshed by you, brother.
UST:
My dear friend, you have greatly encouraged me and have caused me to rejoice a lot. For you have been encouraging God’s people by how much you love them.
According to Paul, what has Philemon done for the saints?
Philemon has refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Philemon 1:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:8ULT:
Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to command you the {thing that} is proper {to do},
UST:
So {because you love God’s people,} and because {I am an apostle} of the Messiah, I am completely confident that the Messiah would allow me to command you to do what you should do.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:9ULT:
because of love I appeal to you instead—being such a one as Paul, an elder, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
UST:
But {instead of commanding you,} {because we love each other,} I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner because I serve the Messiah, Jesus, only request {that you do this.}
Why is Paul asking Philemon for something instead of commanding him?
Paul is asking Philemon because of love.
Philemon 1:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:10ULT:
I am appealing to you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.
UST:
I am asking you do something for Onesimus. He has become like a son to me {since I told him about the Messiah here} in prison.
What did Paul call Onesimus?
Paul called Onesimus his child.
Where was Paul when he became Onesimus’ father?
Paul was in chains, in prison.
Philemon 1:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:11ULT:
The one formerly useless to you, but now useful both to you and to me,
UST:
He was useless to you in the past, but now he is useful both to you and to me!
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:12ULT:
whom I have sent back to you—him—this one is my inner parts;
UST:
Although he is very dear to me, I am sending him back to you.
What has Paul done with Onesimus?
Paul has sent Onesimus back to Philemon.
Philemon 1:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:13ULT:
whom I desired to keep with me, so that he might serve me on behalf of you in the chains of the gospel.
UST:
I wanted to keep him here with me in order that he might serve me in your place, especially while I am still in prison for preaching the good news {about the Messiah.}
Where is Paul as he writes this letter?
Paul is in prison as he writes this letter.
What would Paul like Onesimus to be able to do?
Paul would like Onesimus to be able to help him.
Philemon 1:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:14ULT:
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good {deed} might not be as according to compulsion but according to good will.
UST:
However, {I am sending him back to you} because you did not tell me I could keep him here. I want you to help me {because you want to help me,} and not because I have forced you to help me.
Why did Paul not want to act without the consent of Philemon?
Paul wanted Philemon’s good deed to be his own choice and not forced upon him by Paul’s action.
Philemon 1:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:15ULT:
For perhaps because of this he was separated from {you} for an hour, so that you might have him back forever,
UST:
It may be {that God allowed Onesimus} to be apart {from you} during this short time so that he could return to you {as a believer} and be with you eternally.
Why did Paul say Onesimus may have been separated from Philemon?
Paul said Onesimus may have been separated from Philemon so that Philemon could have him back forever, meaning as an eternal brother in Christ.
Philemon 1:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:16ULT:
no longer as a slave, but better than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me, but much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.
UST:
This is because {Onesimus} is no longer just a slave, but he is much more than a slave. For now you can love him as a fellow believer! He is very dear to me, but he is certainly even more dear to you. This is because now he not only belongs to you {as a slave,} but he also belongs to the Lord.
How does Paul now want Philemon to consider Onesimus? (1:16-17)
Paul wants Philemon to consider Onesimus as a beloved brother.
Philemon 1:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:17ULT:
Therefore, if you have me {as} a partner, receive him as me.
UST:
So if you consider me to be your companion {in doing the work God has given us,} then welcome Onesimus into your home in the same way you would welcome me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:18ULT:
But if he has wronged you or owes {you} anything, charge that to me.
UST:
But if he has taken anything from you, or if he is in debt to you for anything, I will repay you.
What does Paul want Philemon to do about anything that Onesimus owes Philemon?
Paul wants Philemon to charge anything owed by Onesimus to Paul’s account.
Philemon 1:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:19ULT:
I, Paul, wrote this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—in order not to say to you that you also owe me even your own self!
UST:
I, Paul, am now writing this in my own handwriting: I will repay you whatever he owes you. I am certain that I do not have to remind you that you owe me {even more than Onesimus might owe you,} {because God saved} your life {when I told you about the Messiah.}
What does Philemon owe Paul?
Philemon owes Paul his very life.
Philemon 1:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:20ULT:
Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my inner parts in Christ.
UST:
Yes, my fellow believer, {I am saying what you think I am saying}. I want {you to do this for me} because of what the Lord {did for you}. Give me another reason to be glad that we are both joined to the Messiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:21ULT:
Having become confident in your obedience, I wrote to you, having known that you will do even beyond what I am saying.
UST:
As I write {this letter} to you, I am sure that you will do what I am asking you to do. In fact, I know that you will do even more than what I am asking you to do.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:22ULT:
But at the same time, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
UST:
As {you do what I am asking you to do}, I also ask you to prepare to receive me into your home. Because all of you have been praying for me, I confidently expect that {God will allow me to leave prison} and to come to you all.
What does Paul want Philemon to do for him?
Paul wants Philemon to prepare a guest room for him.
Why does Paul want Philemon to do this?
Paul hopes that God will send him back to Philemon.
Philemon 1:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:23ULT:
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
UST:
Epaphras, who is {suffering} with me in prison {for serving} Messiah Jesus, says hello to you.
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:24ULT:
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, {and} Luke, my fellow workers.
UST:
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who are my partners here, {also say hello to you.}
(There are no questions for this verse)
Philemon 1:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Philemon 1:25ULT:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ {be} with your spirit. Amen.
UST:
{I pray} that our Lord Jesus the Messiah will continue to be kind to you. Amen.
(There are no questions for this verse)