| 1:1 |
Paul a prisoner forof Christ Jesus and Timothy our brother To Phile′monPhilemon our beloveddear fellowfriend and co worker |
| 1:2 |
andto Ap′phiaApphia our sister andto Archip′pusArchippus our fellow soldier and to the church in your house: |
| 1:4 |
When I thankremember myyou Godin alwaysmy whenprayers I rememberalways youthank in my prayersGod |
| 1:5 |
because I hear of your love andfor ofall the faithsaints whichand youyour havefaith toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints |
| 1:6 |
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promotebecome theeffective knowledgewhen ofyou perceive all the good that iswe oursmay indo for Christ |
| 1:7 |
For I have derivedindeed received much joy and comfortencouragement from your love my brother because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you my brother |
| 1:8 |
AccordinglyFor this reason though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do whatyour isduty required |
| 1:9 |
yet for loves sake I preferwould torather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I Paul do this as an ambassadorold man and now also as a prisoner alsoof for Christ Jesus— |
| 1:10 |
I appealam appealing to you for my child Ones′imusOnesimus whose father I have become induring my imprisonment |
| 1:11 |
Formerly he was useless to you but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me |
| 1:12 |
I am sending him backthat tois you sending my veryown heart back to you |
| 1:13 |
I wouldwanted have been glad to keep him with me inso order that he might servebe of service to me onin your behalfplace during my imprisonment for the gospel; |
| 1:14 |
but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodnessgood deed might not be byvoluntary compulsionand butnot ofsomething yourforced own free will |
| 1:15 |
Perhaps this is whythe reason he was partedseparated from you for a while so that you might have him back forforever ever |
| 1:16 |
no longer as a slave but more than a slave as a beloved brother —especially to me but how much more to you both in the flesh and in the Lord |
| 1:17 |
So if you consider me your partner receivewelcome him as you would receivewelcome me |
| 1:18 |
If he has wronged you atin allany way or owes you anything charge that to my account |
| 1:19 |
I Paul writeam writing this with my own hand: I will repay it—to I say nothing ofabout your owing me even your own self |
| 1:20 |
Yes brother Ilet wantme somehave this benefit from you in the Lord Refresh my heart in Christ |
| 1:21 |
Confident of your obedience I writeam writing to you knowing that you will do even more than I say |
| 1:22 |
AtOne thething same time more—prepare a guest room for me for I am hoping through your prayers to be grantedrestored to you |
| 1:23 |
Ep′aphrasEpaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus sends greetings to you |
| 1:24 |
and so do Mark Aristar′chusAristarchus Demas and Luke my fellow workers |