Salutation. 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the Church that meets in your house: 3 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer. 4 I always give thanks to my God when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of the love and faith that you have for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become even more effective so that you may come to perceive all the blessings we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and encouragement because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, my brother.
Plea for Onesimus. 8 Therefore, although I am confident that in Christ I have the right to command you to do your duty, 9 I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10 am appealing to you on behalf of my child, Onesimus, whom I have fathered during my imprisonment.
11 He was formerly useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 Therefore, I am sending him back to you, that is, I am sending my very own heart. 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he might be of service to me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your knowledge, so that your good deed might be voluntary and not compelled.
15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave: as a brother. He is beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, both as a man and in the Lord.
17 Therefore, if you consider me to be a friend, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about the fact that you owe me your very self. 20 Yes, my brother, grant me some benefit in the Lord. Set my heart at rest in Christ.
21 Conclusion. I have written to you confident of your acceptance, and in fact I am certain that you will do even more than I ask. 22 At the same time, please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Footnotes
- Philemon 1:1
- Philemon 1:1
- Philemon 1:2
- Philemon 1:4
- Philemon 1:5
- Philemon 1:7
- Philemon 1:8
- Philemon 1:10
- Philemon 1:12
- Philemon 1:15
- Philemon 1:16
- Philemon 1:17
- Philemon 1:20
- Philemon 1:21
- Philemon 1:23
- Philemon 1:24
- Philemon 1:25
