Philemon 1

New International Version

• 1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
• 2. To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
• 3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 4. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
• 5. because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
• 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.
• 7. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
• 8. Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
• 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--
• 10. I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
• 11. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
• 12. I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.
• 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.
• 14. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
• 15. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--
• 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.
• 17. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
• 18. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
• 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.
• 20. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
• 21. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
• 22. And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
• 23. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
• 24. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
• 25. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

New International Version