Philemon 8-10

International Standard Version

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ For this reason, although in the Messiah^[a] I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper, ⁹ I prefer to make my appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner of the Messiah^[b] Jesus, ¹⁰ appeal to you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.