Philemon 1

Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow worker,

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

I thank my God always, remembering you in my prayers,

because I hear of your love and trust that you have for the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones,

and I pray that your participation in the faith is energized through the knowledge of every good thing that is in us in connection with Christ.

For I have received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore, although I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is proper,

instead, I appeal to you on the basis of love, being in the state that I, Paul, am in—an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.

I appeal to you on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you and to me.

I am sending him back to you (he is my very heart).

I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the good news,

but without your consent I did not want to do anything so that your goodness toward him would not be because of compulsion but because you were willing.

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a short time, so that you would have him back forever,

no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a beloved brother, which he is especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me.

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self ).

Yes, brother, I hope to receive this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

I am writing to you, having confidence in your obedience, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

And also one more thing—prepare a place for me to stay because I hope that through your prayers I will be granted by God’s grace to come to you.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.