Philemon 1:1-25
1 Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother,—Unto Philemon the beloved and a fellow worker of ours,
2 And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, And unto the assembly which meeteth at thy house:
3 Favour unto you and peace From God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I am giving thanks unto my God—Always making mention of thee in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints,—
6 To the end that the fellowship of thy faith may become energetic by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards Christ;
7 For much joy have I had and encouragement by occasion of thy love, In that the tender affections of the saints have had rest given them by thee, brother.
8 Wherefore though I have much freedom of speech in Christ to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting
9 Yet for love’s sake I rather exhort,—Being such a one as Paul the aged, Now also even a prisoner of Christ Jesus,—
10 I exhort thee concerning my own child Whom I have begotten in my bonds,—Onesimus:
11 Him who at one time was unto thee unserviceable, But now unto thee and unto me serviceable;
12 Whom I have sent back unto thee—Him, That is my own tender affections!—
13 Whom I was minded with myself to detain, That in thy behalf unto me he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message;
14 But apart from thy mind I wished to do nothing, That not as by necessity thy goodness should be but by choice.
15 For peradventure for this cause was he separated for an hour That as an age-abiding possession thou mightest have him back,—
16 No longer as a servant But above a servant—A brother beloved,—Very greatly to me But how much rather to thee—Both in the flesh and in the Lord!
17 If therefore thou holdest me as one in thy fellowship Take him unto thee as myself;
18 And if he hath wronged thee at all or oweth thee aught The same unto me do thou reckon:—
19 I Paul have written [it] with my own hand,—I will repay [it]; That I may not tell thee—That thyself unto me thou still owest.
20 Yea! brother I would from thee have help in the Lord: Give rest unto my tender affections in Christ.
21 Confident of thine obedience I have written unto thee, Knowing that even beyond what I say thou wilt do:—
22 At the same time moreover be also getting ready for me a lodging; For I am hoping that through your prayers I shall be granted as a favour unto you.
23 There salute thee—Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,
24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke,—my fellow-workers.
25 The favour of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.