Philemon 1 |
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved and our co-worker,
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at your house.
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always, remembering you in my prayers,
5 as I hear of the love and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones,
6 so that your partnership in the faith may become effective in recognizing every good there is in us that leads to Christ.
7 For I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper,
9 I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
11 who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me.
12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel,
14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,
16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.
17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
18 And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19 I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
20 Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 With trust in your compliance I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 At the same time prepare a guest room for me, for I hope to be granted to you through your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 as well as Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU)
The New American Standard Updated Version (NASU) is a highly respected English translation of the Bible known for its rigorous adherence to the original languages of Scripture. First published in 1995 by the Lockman Foundation, the NASU is an update of the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which was originally completed in 1971. The NASU seeks to improve upon the NASB by enhancing readability and modernizing the language while maintaining the translation’s reputation for being one of the most literal translations available. This makes the NASU a preferred choice for serious Bible study, preaching, and teaching.
A key feature of the NASU is its commitment to formal equivalence, or a word-for-word translation philosophy. The translators aimed to produce a text that is as close as possible to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This approach ensures that the NASU captures the precise meaning and structure of the original texts, providing readers with a highly accurate and reliable representation of the Scriptures. The use of formal equivalence makes the NASU particularly valuable for those who desire a deep and detailed understanding of the Bible, including scholars, theologians, and students of the Word.
In updating the NASB, the NASU made several important changes to improve clarity and readability. While maintaining the accuracy and literalness of the translation, the NASU incorporates modern English expressions and smoother sentence structures. This makes the text more accessible to contemporary readers without compromising the precision that the NASB is known for. The NASU also includes updated cross-references and footnotes, which provide additional context and insights, further aiding in the study and understanding of the biblical text.
Despite its many strengths, the NASU has faced some criticism. Some readers and scholars argue that the translation’s emphasis on literalness can sometimes result in a text that feels stiff or less fluid than more dynamic translations. Additionally, while the NASU’s updated language makes it more accessible, some feel that it could go further in adapting to contemporary usage without losing its accuracy. Nevertheless, the New American Standard Updated Version remains a highly esteemed translation, valued for its fidelity to the original texts and its usefulness for in-depth study and precise interpretation of the Bible.