Paul's Letter to Philemon, Chapter 1
{1:1} Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to
Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, {1:2} to the beloved Apphia, to
Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
{1:3} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
{1:4} I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
{1:5} hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the
Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; {1:6} that the fellowship of
your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing
which is in us in Christ Jesus. {1:7} For we have much joy and comfort
in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed
through you, brother.
{1:8} Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you
that which is appropriate, {1:9} yet for love's sake I rather beg,
being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus
Christ. {1:10} I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father
of in my chains, [1>]Onesimus,[<1] {1:11} who once was useless to you,
but now is useful to you and to me. {1:12} I am sending him back.
Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, {1:13} whom I desired to
keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for
the Good News. {1:14} But I was willing to do nothing without your
consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free
will. {1:15} For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a
while, that you would have him forever, {1:16} 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.
{1:17} If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would
receive me. {1:18} But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you
anything, put that to my account. {1:19} 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). {1:20} Yes, brother, let me have joy from
you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. {1:21} Having
confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do
even beyond what I say.
{1:22} Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through
your prayers I will be restored to you.
{1:23} Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
{1:24} as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
{1:25} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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Footnotes:
[1] {1:10} Onesimus means "useful."
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