BBE - Philemon - 1

1:1  Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith,

1:2  And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your house:

1:3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4  I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you,

1:5  Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints;

1:6  That the faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ.

1:7  For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother.

1:8  And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right,

1:9  Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus:

1:10  My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains,

1:11  Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

1:12  Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart:

1:13  Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place:

1:14  But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.

1:15  For it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever;

1:16  No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord.

1:17  If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.

1:18  If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

1:19  I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.

1:20  So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ.

1:21  Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say.

1:22  And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.

1:23  Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love;

1:24  And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers.

1:25  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it.