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Philemon

Greeting

1 Paul, ^a a prisoner ^b of Christ Jesus, ^c and Timothy ^d our brother:To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister, ^{▼▼Other mss read our beloved} to Archippus ^f our fellow soldier, ^g and to the church that meets in your home. ^h

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love ⁱ and faith toward ^{▼▼Lit faith that you have toward} the Lord Jesus and for all the ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}saints. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective ^l through knowing every good thing ^m that is in us ^{▼▼Other mss read in you} for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed ^o through you, brother.

An Appeal for Onesimus

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man ^{▼▼Or an ambassador} and now also as a prisoner ^q of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son, ^r Onesimus. ^{▼▼In Gk, Onesimus means useful.
,} ^t I fathered ^{▼▼Referring to the fact that Paul led him to Christ; 1Co 4:15
,} ^v him while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you as a part of myself. ^{▼▼Other mss read him back. Receive him as a part of myself.
,} ^{▼▼Lit you – that is, my inward parts} 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a ^{▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.}slave, but more than a slave – as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh ^z and in the Lord. ^{▼▼Both physically and spiritually
,} ^ab

17 So if you consider me a partner, accept ^ac him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. ^ad 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: ^ae I will repay it – not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Final Greetings

23 Epaphras, ^af my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, and so do 24 Mark, ^ag Aristarchus, ^ah Demas, and Luke, ^ai my coworkers.

25 The grace of the Lord ^{▼▼Other mss read our Lord
,} ^ak Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ^al