Philemon 1

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy, to Philemon, our dear coworker.

2and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I always thank my God, mentioning you in my prayers.

5hearing your love and the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6that the sharing of your faith may become effective in fully knowing every good thing that is in us in Christ.

7For I have had much joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8Therefore, though I have abundant boldness in Christ to command you what is fitting,

9For love's sake I rather urge, being such a one as Paul an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

10I appeal to you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whom I fathered in chains.

11who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12whom I am sending back to you—him, that is, my very heart.

13whom I wanted to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the gospel.

14But without your consent I desired to do nothing, so that your good might not be as by necessity, but willingly.

15For perhaps because of this he was separated from you for a little while, so that you might have him forever.

16no longer as a slave, but beyond a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17If therefore you regard me a partner, receive him as me.

18But if he wronged you in any way, or owes you, charge that to me.

19I, Paul, write with my own hand; I will repay, so as not to say to you that you even owe your own self to me besides.

20Yes, brother, let me have joy through you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21Confident in your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

22At the same time, prepare lodging for me as well, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you.

24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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