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, Onesimus, { Onesimus means "useful." } |
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. |