Paul's Letter to Philemon
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Chapter 1
^1Paul, 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.
^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.
^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, [312]
^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.
^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.
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[312] Onesimus means "useful."
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