Philemon

1

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker
² And to Apphia the sister and to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church, which is in your house:
³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
⁴ I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
⁵ Hearing of your love and the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and to all the saints,
⁶ That the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the full knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ.
⁷ For I had much joy and encouragement over your love, because the inward parts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
⁸ Therefore though I have much boldness in Christ to charge you what is fitting,
⁹ Because of love I rather entreat, being such a one as Paul the aged and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
¹⁰ I entreat you concerning my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,
¹¹ Who formerly was useless to you but now is useful both to you and to me.
¹² Him I have sent back to you — him, that is, my very heart —
¹³ Whom I intended to keep with myself that on your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel.
¹⁴ But without your mind I did not want to do anything, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but voluntary.
¹⁵ For perhaps for this reason he was separated from you for but an hour, that you might fully have him forever,
¹⁶ No longer as a slave, but above a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
¹⁷ If then you hold me as a partner, receive him as myself.
¹⁸ And if he has wronged you in anything or owes anything, charge that to my account.
¹⁹ I, Paul, have written with my own hand: I will repay; not to say to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
²⁰ Yes, brother, may I have profit from you in the Lord; refresh my inward parts in Christ.
²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you will do even beyond the things that I say.
²² And at the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you;
²⁴ As do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.