1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul–an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him–who is my very heart–back to you.
13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.
14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good–
16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back–not to mention that you owe me your very self.
20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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.