This eBook was produced by David Widger
from etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgiaand Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared withthe Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard ChallonerA.D. 1749-1752
Philemon, a noble citizen of Colossa, had a servant named Onesimus, whorobbed him and fled to Rome, where he met St. Paul, who was then aprisoner there the first time. The apostle took compassion on him andreceived him with tenderness and converted him to the faith; for he wasa Gentile before. St. Paul sends him back to his master with thisEpistle in his favour: and though he beseeches Philemon to pardon him,yet the Apostle writes with becoming dignity and authority. It containsdivers profitable instructions and points out the charity and humanitythat masters should have for their servants.
Philemon Chapter 1
He commends the faith and charity of Philemon; and sends back to him hisfugitive servant, whom he had converted in prison.
1:1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: toPhilemon, our beloved and fellow labourer,
1:2. And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellowsoldier, and to the church which is in thy house.
1:3. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord JesusChrist.
1:4. I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in myprayers.
1:5. Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesusand towards all the saints:
1:6. That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in theacknowledgment of every good work that is in you in Christ Jesus.
1:7. For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, becausethe bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
1:8. Wherefore, though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus to commandthee that which is to the purpose:
1:9. For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, asPaul, an old man and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.
1:10. I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands,Onesimus,
1:11. Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee but now isprofitable both to me and thee:
1:12. Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my ownbowels.
1:13. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he mighthave ministered to me in the bands of the gospel.
1:14. But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deedmight not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.
1:15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee that thoumightest receive him again for ever:
1:16. Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant,