1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker,
2 to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at 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 faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective in full knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have much thanksgiving and encouragement over your love, because the affections of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to command you what is fitting,
9 rather on account of love I appeal to you-being such a one as Paul, the elder, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ-
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment,
11 who formerly was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable both to you and to me,
12 whom I am sending back. You therefore receive him, that is, my very heart;
13 whom I wished to keep with myself, in order that on your behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the gospel.
14 But I wished to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good might not be by necessity, but by [being] voluntary.
15 For perhaps he was taken away for a time on account of this, in order that you might keep him eternally,
16 no longer as a slave but more than 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 count me as a partner, receive him as [you would ]me.
18 But if he has wronged you or owes [anything], charge this to me.
19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay-lest I say to you that even yourself you owe to me!
20 Yes, brother, may I have profit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Having been persuaded of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 But meanwhile, also prepare for me a guestroom, for I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 [ as do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.