- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy
our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
- to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our
fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- I always thank my God as I remember you
in my prayers,
- because I hear about your faith in the
Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
- 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.
- Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,
because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- Therefore, although in Christ I could be
bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
- 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 --
- I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who
became my son while I was in chains.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now
he has become useful both to you and to me.
- I am sending him -- who is my very heart
-- back to you.
- 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.
- But I did not want to do anything without
your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
- Perhaps the reason he was separated from
you for a little while was that you might have him back for good --
- 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.
- So if you consider me a partner, welcome
him as you would welcome me.
- If he has done you any wrong or owes you
anything, charge it to me.
- I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.
I will pay it back -- not to mention that you owe me your very self.
- I do wish, brother, that I may have some
benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
- Confident of your obedience, I write to
you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
- And one thing more: Prepare a guest room
for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
- Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ
Jesus, sends you greetings.
- And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and
Luke, my fellow workers.
- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit.
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