Good News Translation has made clear that Paul is addressing only one person, namely Philemon (see also Bible en français courant Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch Translator’s New Testament Phillips). The name Philemon alone would in English be too distant, so brother is used (see Philemon 1.7). In certain instances Brother Philemon may be expressed as “my dear Philemon” or “Philemon my friend.” Frequently, however, there is some standard expression in languages to identify fellow Christians, and this would be an appropriate expression in this context, but it should carry the connotation of friendship and intimacy. In some languages an expression such as “relative” is used, and in other cases “fellow clansman.”

Good News Translation has rearranged the three items in Paul’s statement: (1) he prays, (2) he mentions Philemon, and (3) he thanks God. The adverb “always” (Revised Standard Version) goes with I mention you, and the sense of “when I pray, I always mention you” is represented by every time I pray I mention you.

I mention you (also Moffatt Goodspeed New English Bible Barclay Traduction œcuménique de la Bible Jerusalem Bible) is one way of understanding the Greek phrase (compare Lightfoot, Moule); Revised Standard Version “I remember you” (also Translator’s New Testament New International Version Bible en français courant Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) is another way. The former seems more appropriate as a deliberate act, not a chance happening. A literal translation such as “I remember you” might suggest in some languages that Paul had forgotten about Philemon. The meaning of the Greek term rendered “remember” in Revised Standard Version really means in this context, “to constantly bear in mind.” One can, therefore, translate “whenever I pray, I bear you in mind” or “… I constantly think of you.”

Paul, like the OT psalmists (for example, Psa 3.7; 5.2; 22.2; 25.2), uses my God to emphasize the intensity of his personal relation with God. In a number of languages, one cannot say “my God,” since this would suggest that the individual in question possesses God. The correct rendering of this phrase may, therefore, be “the God whom I worship.” On the other hand, an emphatic form of “I” might suggest “the God whom I worship but you do not,” in which case an inclusive form of “we” could be employed for this particular context.

I give thanks: see Col 1.3.

In a number of languages, I … give thanks to my God must be translated in such a way as to indicate the content of the thanks, for example, “I give thanks to my God because of you.” Often, however, the expression I … give thanks must be restructured as direct discourse, since it implies some kind of utterance, for example, “I say to my God, ‘I am thankful for Philemon.’ ” However, this may be expressed somewhat more satisfactorily as indirect discourse, for example, “I say to my God that I am thankful to you.” In some instances “thankfulness” can only be expressed in terms of an emotion of happiness, for example, “I am happy because of you.” Thankfulness can be most satisfactorily expressed in some languages as a causative of an emotion, for example, “because you cause my heart to be glad.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .