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