1 Philemon’s Love and Faith Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy 1:1 Lit the our brother,To Philemon our belovedbrotherand fellow worker,
2 and to Apphia 1:2 Lit the our sister, and to 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, always making mention of you in my prayers,
5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the 1:5 Or holy ones saints;
6 and I praythat the fellowship of your faith may become effective 1:6Or in through the full knowledge of every good thing which is in you 1:6Lit toward Christ for the sake of Christ.
7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the 1:7Lit inward parts hearts of the 1:7Or holy ones saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command youto dowhat is proper,
9 yet for love’s sake I rather plead withyou—since I am such a person as Paul, 1:9 Or an ambassador the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—Plea for Onesimus
10 I plead with you for my child 1:10 Useful Onesimus, of whom I became a 1:10 Or begotten father in my chains,
11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.
12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, my very heart,
13 whom I intended to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel,
14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but voluntarily.
15 For perhaps he was for this reason separatedfrom youfor a while, that you would have him back forever,
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 regard me a partner, accept him asyou would acceptme.
18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to 1:19 Lit say mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).
20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ!
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.
22 And at the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 as doMark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 1:25One early ms adds Amen