Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker, [a] † 2 and to Apphia the sister and to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the gathering at your house: [b] 3 Favor 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 hearing of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones, [c] 6 so that the sharing of your faith may become effective in the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ. [d] 7 For I had much joy and comfort at your love, because the inward parts of the holy ones have been given rest through you, brother. [e]

8 For this reason, though I have much boldness in Christ to order you to do what is fitting, [f] 9 because of love I rather urge — being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus — [g] 10 I urge you concerning my child, whom I fathered in the chains, Onesimus, [h] 11 the one who once was useless to you but now is useful both to you and to me, [i] 12 whom I sent back to you — him, that is, my own inward parts; [j] 13 whom I myself was wanting to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might serve me in the chains of the good news, [k] 14 but apart from your judgment I wanted to do nothing, so that your good might not be as by compulsion but willingly. [l] 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for an hour, so that you might have him back forever — [m] 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave: a beloved brother, most of all to me, but how much more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord. [n]

17 If, then, you have me as a partner, receive him as me. [o] 18 And if he has wronged you in anything, or owes you, charge this to me. [p] 19 I, Paul, wrote with my own hand: I myself will pay — not to say to you that you owe me your very self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Give rest to my inward parts in Christ. [q]

21 Having been persuaded of your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say. 22 And at the same time prepare a lodging for me too, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you. [r]

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner of war in Christ Jesus, greets you, [s] 24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. [t]