NETtext - Philemon - 1

1:1  From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,

1:2  to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.

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

1:4  I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,

1:5  because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

1:6  I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.

1:7  I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

1:8  So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,

1:9  I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love - I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus -

1:10  I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,

1:11  who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.

1:12  I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.

1:13  I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.

1:14  However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.

1:15  For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,

1:16  no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.

1:17  Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

1:18  Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.

1:19  I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.

1:20  Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

1:21  Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.

1:22  At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.

1:23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

1:24  Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.

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