Montgomery - Philemon - 1

1:1  To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

1:2  to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon’s house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.

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

1:4  I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God,

1:5  because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward all the saints.

1:6  And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ.

1:7  For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.

1:8  And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,

1:9  yet for love’s sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!

1:10  I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

1:11  Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.

1:12  I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!

1:13  I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.

1:14  But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.

1:15  Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever,

1:16  no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.

1:17  If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

1:18  And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.

1:19  I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.

1:20  Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

1:21  Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.

1:22  Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

1:23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;

1:24  so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

1:25  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.