Philemon - Chapter 1

1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear helper in the faith, 2And to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our brother in God's army, and to the church in your house: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give praise to God at all times and make prayer for you, 5Hearing of the love and the faith which you have to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints; 6That the faith which you have in common with them may be working with power, in the knowledge of every good thing in you, for Christ. 7For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been made strong again through you, brother. 8And so, though I might, in the name of Christ, give you orders to do what is right, 9Still, because of love, in place of an order, I make a request to you, I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner of Christ Jesus: 10My request is for my child Onesimus, the child of my chains, 11Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me: 12Whom I have sent back to you, him who is my very heart: 13Though my desire was to keep him with me, to be my servant in the chains of the good news, in your place: 14But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart. 15For it is possible that for this reason he was parted from you for a time, so that you might have him for ever; 16No longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother, very dear to me specially, but much more to you, in the flesh as well as in the Lord. 17If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself. 18If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account. 19I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life. 20So brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: give new life to my heart in Christ. 21Being certain that you will do my desire, I am writing to you, in the knowledge that you will do even more than I say. 22And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you. 23Epaphras, my brother-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his love; 24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my brother-workers. 25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. So be it.