Discovery BoxPhilemon 1:8-10 
Context1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, 1:9 I would rather appeal 1 to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man 2 and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus 3 – 1:10 I am appealing 4 to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become 5 during my imprisonment, 6 that is, Onesimus,
1 tn Or “encourage.”
2 tn Or perhaps “an ambassador” (so RSV, TEV), reading πρεσβευτής for πρεσβύτης (a conjecture proposed by Bentley, cf. BDAG 863 s.v. πρεσβύτης). NRSV reads “old man” and places “ambassador” in a note.
3 tn Grk “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”
4 tn Or “I am encouraging…”
5 tn Grk “my child whom I have begotten.” The adjective “spiritual” has been supplied before “father” in the translation to clarify for the modern reader that Paul did not literally father a child during his imprisonment. Paul’s point is that he was instrumental in Onesimus’ conversion while in prison.
6 sn During my imprisonment. Apparently Onesimus became a believer under Paul’s shepherding while he [Paul] was a prisoner in Rome.
