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Philemon

Greetings from Paul and Timothy

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy [our] brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church [that meets] at your house: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon's Faith and Love

4 I always thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 [I pray] that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good [thing] that [is] ours in Christ. 7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul's Appeal for Onesimus

8 So {although} in Christ I am bold enough to order you [to do] what [is] proper, 9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. [For] I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well. 10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, ^{▼▼Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20)} whose father I became [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 back to you him who is my very heart. 13 I would have liked to keep [him] with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in [my] chains for the gospel. 14 But I did [not] want to do [anything] without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated [from you] for a while, so that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, [as] a beloved brother. [He is] especially [ beloved ] to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in [the] Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as [you would receive] me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes [you anything] , charge it to my account. 19 I, Paul, write [this] with my own hand. I will repay [it] — not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 Yes, brother, let me 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 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers, I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, 24 [as do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, [and] Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. ^{▼▼BYZ and TR include Amen.}