Philemon 1:1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
Philemon 1:2
to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
Philemon 1:3
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:4
I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
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because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
Philemon 1:6
I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
Philemon 1:7
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Philemon 1:8
So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
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I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
Philemon 1:10
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
Philemon 1:11
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Philemon 1:12
I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
Philemon 1:13
I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
Philemon 1:14
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
Philemon 1:15
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
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no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
Philemon 1:17
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Philemon 1:18
But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
Philemon 1:19
I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Philemon 1:20
Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Philemon 1:21
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Philemon 1:22
In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Philemon 1:23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
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as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.