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Paul, a
prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear
friend and fellow worker, {2} to Apphia our sister, to Archippus
our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: {3}
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{4} I always thank my God as I remember 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 you may be active in sharing your
faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we
have in Christ. {7} Your love has given me great joy and
encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the
saints. {8} Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and
order you to do what you ought to do, {9} yet I appeal to you on
the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner
of Christ Jesus-- {10} I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who
became my son while I was in chains. {11} Formerly he was useless
to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. {12}
I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you. {13} I would
have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in
helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. {14} But I did
not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do
will be spontaneous and not forced. {15} Perhaps the reason he
was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him
back for good-- {16} no longer as a slave, but better than a
slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you,
both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. {17} So if you
consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. {18}
If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
{19} I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it
back--not to mention that you owe me your very self. {20} I do
wish, brother, that I may have 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 ask. {22}
And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be
restored to you in answer to your prayers. {23} Epaphras, my
fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. {24} And so
do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. {25} The
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
