| 1 | Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, |
| 2 | to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: |
| 3 | Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4 | I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, |
| 5 | hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; |
| 6 | that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. |
| 7 | For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. |
| 8 | Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, |
| 9 | yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. |
| 10 | I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, |
| 11 | who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. |
| 12 | I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, |
| 13 | whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. |
| 14 | But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. |
| 15 | For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, |
| 16 | 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. |
| 17 | If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. |
| 18 | But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. |
| 19 | 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). |
| 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 beyond what I say. |
| 22 | Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. |
| 23 | Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, |
| 24 | as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. |
| 25 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. |
