Phm1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker,
Phm1:2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
Phm1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phm1:4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God
Phm1:5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.
Phm1:6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.
Phm1:7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
Phm1:8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,
Phm1:9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love-- and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
Phm1:10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.
Phm1:11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me.
Phm1:12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
Phm1:13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel;
Phm1:14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.
Phm1:15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever,
Phm1:16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother-- especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Phm1:17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
Phm1:18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
Phm1:19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self.
Phm1:20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.
Phm1:21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
Phm1:22 One thing more-- prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
Phm1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
Phm1:24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Phm1:25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.