1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to
Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 2 to the beloved Apphia, to
Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly 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 of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and
toward all the saints; 6 that the fellowship of your faith may become
effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ
Jesus. 7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts
of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that
which is appropriate, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one
as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beg you for
my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains,
Onesimus,*1 11 who once was useless to
you, but now is useful to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back.
Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I desired to keep
with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the gospel.
14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your
goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15 For perhaps he
was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him
forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved
brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and
in the Lord.
17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my
account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to
mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). 20 Yes,
brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you
will do even beyond what I say.
22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers
I will be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
1 Onesimus means “useful.”
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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