Philemon 1

1 A prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, P

2 to the beloved Aphis, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: P

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

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

5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, P

6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. P

7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. P

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, P

9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you-being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. P

10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, P

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

12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, P

13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. P

14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. P

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, P

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

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. P

18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. P

19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay-not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. P

20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. P

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. P

22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. P

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, P

24 As do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. P

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