1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our
brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the
beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of
your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the
saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the
acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the
saints have been refreshed by you, brother. 8 Therefore, though I might
be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for loveŐs
sake I rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a
prisoner of Jesus Christ-- 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom
I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you,
but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You
therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep
with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the
gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your
good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For
perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him
forever, 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. 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would
me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my
account. 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. 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 more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for
me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. 23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark,
Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. 25 The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (NKJV)
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