1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, |
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: |
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, |
5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. |
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. |
7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. |
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, |
9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus-- |
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. |
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 for the gospel. |
14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. |
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good-- |
16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. |
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. |
18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. |
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. 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 my heart in Christ. |
21 Confident 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 restored to you in answer to your prayers. |
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. |