The words of the Bible

PHILEMON 1

Preface - Greetings and Thanksgiving

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

4 I thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints;

6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of all the good that is in us in Christ.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because through you, brother, the hearts of the saints have been refreshed.

Paul intercedes for the converted slave, Onesimus, who had fled from their Lord

8 Therefore, although in Christ to enjoin thee what is good,

9 but rather beseech thee for this thy love, I being as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

10 I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 who once was useless to you, but now you and me is very useful;

12 I am sending him, who is my own heart.

13 I could wish to keep him with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the gospel;

14 but without your consent I would do nothing, that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but rather spontaneous.

15 For we can be that he has separated from you for a while so that the back for ever,

16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

19 I, Paul, with my own hand I write, I will repay, not to tell you that even yourself you owe to me.

20 Yes, brother, I wanted to rejoice thee in the Lord; Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 I write to you confidence in your obedience, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Private Communications

Greetings

22 At the same time prepare me also a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.