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Paul, a prisoner of Christ
Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
to the beloved Apphia, to
Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: Grace to you and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God always,
making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love, and of the
faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
that the fellowship of
your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing
which is in us in Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and comfort
in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through
you, brother.
Therefore, though I
have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
yet for love’s sake I
rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of
Jesus Christ. I beg you
for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, who once was useless to you, but
now is useful to you and to me. I am sending him back. Therefore
receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I desired to keep with me,
that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
But I was willing to do
nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of
necessity, but of free will. For perhaps he was therefore
separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, no 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.
If then you count me a
partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has wronged you at all,
or owes you anything, put that to my account. I, 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). Yes,
brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the
Lord. Having confidence
in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond
what I say.
Also, prepare a guest
room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to
you.
Epaphras, my fellow
prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas,
and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Notes: [1] back to
1:10 Onesimus means “useful.”
Bible Index
Philemon
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