Philemon

0:1   Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,   To
Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 
0:2  to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church
that meets in your home:  
0:3   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
0:4   I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 
0:5  because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all
the saints. 
0:6  I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will
have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 
0:7  Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you,
brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. 
0:8   Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what
you ought to do, 
0:9  yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man
and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus-- 
0:10  I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, {[10] <Onesimus> means <useful.>}
who became my son while I was in chains. 
0:11  Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to
you and to me. 
0:12   I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you. 
0:13  I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your
place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 
0:14  But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any
favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 
0:15  Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was
that you might have him back for good-- 
0:16  no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He
is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in
the Lord. 
0:17   So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

0:18  If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 
0:19  I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to
mention that you owe me your very self. 
0:20  I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord;
refresh my heart in Christ. 
0:21  Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do
even more than I ask. 
0:22   And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be
restored to you in answer to your prayers.  
0:23   Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 
0:24  And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 
0:25   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 
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