[0] Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one
disregard you. [1] Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our
brother, To Phile'mon our beloved fellow worker [2] and Ap'phia our sister
and Archip'pus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: [3] Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [4] I thank
my God always when I remember you in my prayers, [5] because I hear of your
love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the
saints, [6] and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the
knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ. [7] For I have derived
much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the
saints have been refreshed through you. [8] Accordingly, though I am bold
enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, [9] yet for love's
sake I prefer to appeal to you--I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner
also for Christ Jesus-- [10] I appeal to you for my child, Ones'imus, whose
father I have become in my imprisonment. [11] (Formerly he was useless to
you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) [12] I am sending him
back to you, sending my very heart. [13] I would have been glad to keep him
with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my
imprisonment for the gospel; [14] but I preferred to do nothing without
your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of
your own free will. [15] Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a
while, that you might have him back for ever, [16] no longer as a slave but
more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more
to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. [17] So if you consider me your
partner, receive him as you would receive me. [18] If he has wronged you at
all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. [19] I, Paul, write
this with my own hand, I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me
even your own self. [20] Yes, brother, I want 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 say. [22] At the same
time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to
be granted to you. [23] Ep'aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,
sends greetings to you, [24] and so do Mark, Aristar'chus, Demas, and Luke,
my fellow workers. [25] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit.
