Philemon 1

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  1. 1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dearly beloved and fellow worker,
  2. 2To our dear Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house:
  3. 3May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  4. 4I always thank my God whenever I mention you in my prayers,
  5. 5because I keep hearing about your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;
  6. 6I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective through the recognition of every good thing that is in you in Christ Jesus.
  7. 7For we have great joy and comfort in your love, brother, because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
  8. 8So even though I could be bold enough in Christ to order you to do what is proper,
  9. 9I would rather appeal to you out of love, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
  10. 10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have become a father to while in chains.
  11. 11There was a time when he was useless to you, but now he's become useful to both you and me.
  12. 12I'm sending him back to you — and with him goes my very heart.
  13. 13I would have kept him with me, so he could serve me on your behalf while I'm in chains for the gospel.
  14. 14But I didn't want to do anything without your consent. That way, any kindness you show wouldn't be forced — it would be freely given.
  15. 15Maybe the reason he was separated from you for a while was so you could have him back forever —
  16. 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother. He is especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord?
  17. 17So if you consider me your partner, welcome him the same way you'd welcome me.
  18. 18If he's wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.
  19. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will pay it back. And I won't even mention that you owe me your very self.
  20. 20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
  21. 21I'm writing to you with full confidence that you'll do what I ask — and even more than I'm asking.
  22. 22One more thing: prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers, I will be given back to you.
  23. 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings,
  24. 24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke — my fellow workers.
  25. 25May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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