Philemon 1

1Paul, a prisoner of Messiah Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

2and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

4I always thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers,

5because I hear of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

6so that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the Messiah.

7For I had much joy and encouragement because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8Therefore, though I have much boldness in Messiah to command you to do what is proper,

9because of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Messiah Jesus—

10I appeal to you concerning my child, Onesimus, whom I fathered in my chains,

11who once was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me,

12I am sending him back to you—him, that is, my very heart.

13I wanted to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he might serve me in the chains of the gospel,

14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, so that your good deed might not be as if by compulsion, but voluntary.

15For perhaps he was separated from you for a time so that you might have him back forever,

16no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me.

18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge this to me.

19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self.

20Yes, brother, let me have benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Messiah.

21Confident of your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

22At the same time also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Messiah Jesus, greets you.

24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.