Phile 10-18 | ESV | STEP | I appeal to you for my child , Onesimus , whose father I became in my imprisonment .

Philemon 10-18

10 I appeal to you for ^amy child, ^bOnesimus, ^{▼▼ Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20)} ^dwhose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me ^eon your behalf ^fduring my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be ^gby compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why ^hhe was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 ⁱno longer as a bondservant ^{▼▼Or slave; twice in this verse (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)} but more than a bondservant, as ^ka beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, ^lboth in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me ^myour partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.