Philemon 1
v1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
v2
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
v3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
v4
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
v5
hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,
v6
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
v7
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
v8
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
v9
yet for loveโs sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
v10
I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
v11
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
v12
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
v13
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
v14
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
v15
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,
v16
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
v17
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
v18
But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
v19
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
v20
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
v21
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
v22
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
v23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
v24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
v25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.