Philemon 1
1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,
2and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.
3Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,
5(for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)
6so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
8Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,
9but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.
11In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.
12So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.
13I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.
14But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.
15So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,
16no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!
17Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.
18But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.
19I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.
20So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.
21I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.
22But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.
23Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,
24and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.
25May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
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;
19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.