Murdock - Philemon

Chapter 1

1:1  These things speak thou, and exhort, and inculcate, with all authority; and let no one despise thee.

1:2  and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus a laborer with us, and to the church in thy house.

1:3  Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

1:4  I thank my God always, and remember thee in my prayers,

1:5  lo, from the time that I heard of thy faith, and of the love thou hast towards our Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints;

1:6  that there may be a fellowship of thy faith, yielding fruits in works, and in the knowledge of all the good things ye possess in Jesus the Messiah.

1:7  For we have great joy and consolation, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thy love.

1:8  Therefore I might have great freedom In the Messiah, to enjoin upon thee the things that are right.

1:9  But for love's sake, I earnestly beseech thee even I, Paul, who am aged, as thou knowest, and now also a prisoner for Jesus the Messiah.

1:10  I beseech thee for my son, whom I had begotten in my bonds for Onesimus;

1:11  from whom formerly thou hadst no profit, but now very profitable will he be both to thee and to me; and whom I have sent to thee.

1:12  And receive thou him, as one begotten by me.

1:13  For I was desirous to retain him with me, that he might minister to me in thy stead, in these bonds for the gospel.

1:14  But I would do nothing without consulting thee; lest thy benefit should be as if by compulsion, and not with thy pleasure.

1:15  And, perhaps, also, he therefore departed from thee for a season, that thou mightest retain him for ever;

1:16  henceforth, not as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother dear to me, and much more to thee, both in the flesh and in our Lord ?

1:17  If therefore thou art in fellowship with me, receive him as one of mine.

1:18  And if he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, place it to my account.

1:19  I, Paul, have written it with my own hand, I will repay: not to say to thee, that to me thou owest thy ownself.

1:20  Yes, my brother, let me be refreshed by thee in our Lord: refresh thou my bowels in the Messiah.

1:21  Being confident that thou wilt hearken to me, I have written to thee: and I know that thou wilt do more than I say.

1:22  And herewith, prepare also a house for me to lodge in; for I hope that, by your prayers, I shall be given to you.

1:23  Epaphras, a fellow-captive with me in Jesus the Messiah, saluteth thee;

1:24  and Mark, and Aristarchus, and Demas, and Luke, my coadjutors.

1:25  The grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with your spirit, my brethren. Amen.