1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker —
2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier —and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace and peace to you "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 love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.
6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul —an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus —
10 that 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 would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever —
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 fellow 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 Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,
2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.
8 Why, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin you that which is convenient,
9 Yet for love' sake I rather beseech you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Which in time past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me:
12 Whom I have sent again: you therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels:
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But without your mind would I do nothing; that your benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him for ever;
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If you count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he has wronged you, or owes you ought, put that on my account;
19 I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to you how you owe to me even your own self besides.
20 Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.
22 But with prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you.
23 There salute you Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.