Verse
Philemon 1:16 — Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved…
“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?”
Narrated Bible, free · iPhone and Android · Meet the narrated Bible
Image to share
Save the image and send it to someone who needs to read this today.
Read it in context
The verses around Philemon 1:16.
14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16Not 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?
17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
Verse explanation
This is the heart of Paul’s request: he is not simply asking Philemon to forgive the runaway slave and take him back without punishment, but to completely change the relationship between the two, treating Onesimus as a brother in the faith, not merely as property. Paul never directly attacks the institution of Roman slavery, common and legal at the time, but asks for a concrete change of treatment within it, without turning this into a general banner against the system.
From the Philemon 1 study in Bible in Stories.
Philemon 1:16 in other versions
The same verse in the 4 Bible versions we have on the site.
- KJV · King James
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?
Read the chapter in this version → - ARC · Almeida 1911Português
Não já como servo, antes, mais do que servo, como irmão amado, particularmente de mim: e quanto mais de ti, assim na carne como no Senhor?
Read the chapter in this version → - BLIVRE · Bíblia LivrePortuguês
Não mais como a um servo, mas sim mais que um servo, [como] a um amado irmão, especialmente para mim, e muito mais de ti, tanto na carne como no Senhor.
Read the chapter in this version → - VBL · Versión Biblia LibreEspañol
Ya no es más un siervo, porque es más que un siervo. Es un hermano especialmente amado, principalmente para mí, e incluso más para ustedes, tanto como persona y también como hermano creyente en el Señor.
Read the chapter in this version →
In other languages: Português (Filemom 1:16) · Español (Filemón 1:16)
Carry this word in your pocket
The complete Bible, narrated in audio, with video stories and a daily devotional. Free on iPhone and Android.
Download free