Phi-lê-môn 1

Greeting

¹From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker, ²to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home. ³Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks for Philemon’s love and faith

⁴Whenever I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God, ⁵because I keep hearing about your love for all God’s holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶I pray that the generosity that flows from your faith will be put to work, as you come to know fully all the good that is ours, for the sake of Christ.^{a 7}Brother, your love has filled me with joy and encouragement, because through you God’s holy people have been refreshed at heart.

Paul appeals for Onesimus

⁸So although in Christ I could be bold enough to order you to do what you ought, ⁹I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, ¹⁰appeal to you for my child Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you and to me. ¹²I am sending him back to you, and he is my very heart.^{b 13}I would have liked to keep him here with me, so that he could serve me in your place while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any good you do would come from your own free choice and not be forced. ¹⁵Perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a little while: so that you might have him back for good, ¹⁶no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a dear brother. He is especially dear to me, and how much more to you, both in everyday life and in the Lord.^c

Take him in as you would me

¹⁷So if I am your partner, take him in as though he were me. ¹⁸If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put it on my account. ¹⁹I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will repay it. I need not remind you that you owe me your own self as well. ²⁰Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹I write to you sure that you will do what I ask, and I know you will do even more than I say. ²²Meanwhile, please also have a room ready for me, for I hope that God will answer your prayers and give me back to you.

Final greetings

²³Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, ²⁴and so do my fellow workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke.

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