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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:

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

I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,

hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;

for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --

because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

10 I entreat thee concerning my child -- whom I did beget in my bonds -- Onesimus,

11 who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,

12 whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

13 whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,

14 and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

15 for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him,

16 no more as a servant, but above a servant -- a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

17 If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,

18 and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;

19 I, Paul did write with my hand, I -- I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.

20 Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;

21 having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;

22 and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

23 Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,)

24 Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.

Paul, a prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus, and Timothy(B) our brother,(C)

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker(D) also to Apphia our sister and Archippus(E) our fellow soldier(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:(G)

Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

I always thank my God(I) as I remember you in my prayers,(J) because I hear about your love for all his holy people(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.(L) I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,(M) because you, brother, have refreshed(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner(P) of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son(Q) Onesimus,[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.(S) 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains(T) for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced(U) but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave,(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner,(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.(Y) 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh(AA) my heart in Christ. 21 Confident(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.(AD)

23 Epaphras,(AE) my fellow prisoner(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark,(AG) Aristarchus,(AH) Demas(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.(AJ)

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter “you” is singular.
  2. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.