[1] Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon,
our beloved fellow worker, [2] to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our
fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: [3] Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [4] I thank my God
always, making mention of you in my prayers, [5] hearing of your love, and
of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the
saints; [6] that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the
knowledge of every good thing which is in us, in Christ Jesus. [7] For we
have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints
have been refreshed through you, brother. [8] Therefore, though I have all
boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, [9] yet for
love`s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now a
prisoner also of Christ Jesus. [10] I beg you for my child, whom I have
fathered in my bonds, Onesimus, [11] who once was useless to you, but now
is useful to you and to me; [12] I am sending him back. You therefore
receive him, that is, my own heart, [13] whom I wanted to keep with me,
that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel.
[14] But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your
goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. [15] For perhaps
he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him
forever, [16] no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved
brother, specially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and
in the Lord. [17] If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would
receive me. [18] But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything,
put that to my account. [19] I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will
repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self
besides). [20] Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh
my heart in the Lord. [21] Having confidence in your obedience, I write to
you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say. [22] Also, prepare a
guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored
to you. [23] Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, [24]
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. [25] The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
