1:1 From Paul, who is a prisoner for the cause of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy. To Philemon our dearly loved coworker,
1:2 Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church that meets in your house.
1:3 May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1:4 Philemon, I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers
1:5 because I’ve heard of your love and faithfulness, which you have both for the Lord Jesus and for all God’s people.
1:6 I pray that your partnership in the faith might become effective by an understanding of all that is good among us in Christ.
1:7 I have great joy and encouragement because of your love, since the hearts of God’s people are refreshed by your actions, my brother.
1:8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to command you to do the right thing,
1:9 I would rather appeal to you through love. I, Paul—an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus—
1:10 appeal to you for my child Onesimus. I became his father in the faith during my time in prison.
1:11 He was useless to you before, but now he is useful to both of us.
1:12 I’m sending him back to you, which is like sending you my own heart.
1:13 I considered keeping him with me so that he might serve me in your place during my time in prison because of the gospel.
1:14 However, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent so that your act of kindness would occur willingly and not under pressure.
1:15 Maybe this is the reason that Onesimus was separated from you for a while so that you might have him back forever—
1:16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—that is, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially a dearly loved brother to me. How much more can he become a brother to you, personally and spiritually in the Lord!
1:17 So, if you really consider me a partner, welcome Onesimus as if you were welcoming me.
1:18 If he has harmed you in any way or owes you money, charge it to my account.
1:19 I, Paul, will pay it back to you (I’m writing this with my own hand). Of course, I won’t mention that you owe me your life.
1:20 Yes, brother, I want this favor from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.
1:21 I’m writing to you, confident of your obedience and knowing that you will do more than what I ask.
1:22 Also, one more thing—prepare a guest room for me. I hope that I will be released from prison to be with you because of your prayers.
1:23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the cause of Christ Jesus, greets you,
1:24 as well as my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
1:25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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