Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

2 to Apphia our beloved, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

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

4 I always thank my God, remembering 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 your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ Jesus.

7 We take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

8 So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Jesus Christ as well.

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in my chains.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending back for you to receive him who is my very heart.

13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

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

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

1 ¶ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy [our] brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 And to [our] beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 ¶ Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech [thee], being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth [thee] ought, put that on mine account;

19 I Paul have written [it] with mine own hand, I will repay [it]: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen.

1 Paul, the bound of Christ JEsu, and Timotheus, the brother: Philemon, the beloved, and our helper,

2 And Appian, the beloved, and Archippus, our contender, and the congregation of thy house.

3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God and remember you always in my prayer,

5 Having heard of the love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,

6 That your faith, which we have one with another, may be strengthened in you by the knowledge of all the good things which ye have in Christ Jesus.

7 But we have great joy and comfort in thy love: for the hearts of the saints are refreshed through thee, dear brother. .

8 Therefore, though I have great joy in Christ, to command thee that which is right for thee,

9 But for love's sake I will only exhort, who am such a one, that is, an old Paul, but now also a bondman of JEsu Christ.

10 Thus I exhort thee for my son's sake, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bands,

11 Which was useless unto thee, but is now profitable unto thee and me: him have I sent again.

12 But thou wilt receive him, that is, my own heart.

13 For I would keep him with me, to minister in thy stead in the bonds of the gospel;

14 But without thy will I would do nothing, that thy good might not be required, but willing.

15 But peradventure for this cause he came from thee for a season, that thou mightest have him again for ever,

16 Now not more than a servant, but more than a servant, a dear brother, especially to me: how much more to thee, both according to the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If therefore thou thinkest me thy companion, receive him as thyself.

18 But if he hath wronged thee, or if he be guilty of any thing, impute it unto me.

19 I, Paul, have written it with mine hand; I will pay it. I hold my peace, that thou owest thyself unto me.

20 Yea, dear brother, grant that I may delight myself in thee in the LORD: quicken my heart in the LORD.

21 I have written unto thee out of confidence of thy obedience: for I know that thou wilt do more than I say.

22 Besides prepare me an inn: for I hope that by your prayer I shall be given unto you.

23 Epaphras saluteth thee, my fellow prisoner in Christ JEsu,

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my assistants.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written by Rome through Onesimus.