PAUL, 1aa prisoner of Jesus Christ, and 2Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and 3fellowlabourer,
And to our beloved 4Apphia, and 5Archippusb our 6fellowsoldier, and to the church 7in thy house:c
8Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Id thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward 9the Lord Jesus, and toward all 10saints;
That 11the communication of thy faith may become 12effectual 13by the acknowledging of 14every good thing which is in you 15in Christ Jesus.
For we have great 16joy and consolation in thy love, because 17the bowels of the saints are 18refreshed by thee, 19brother.
Wherefore, though I might be much bold 20in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
Yet for 21love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also 22a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Ie beseech thee for 23my son Onesimus, whomf I 24have begotten in my bonds:
Which in time past was to 25thee unprofitable, but now 26profitable to thee and to me:
Whom I have sent again: thou therefore 27receive him, that is, 28mine own bowels:g
Whom I would have retained with me, that in 29thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds 30of the gospel:
But without thy mind would I do nothing; that 31thy benefit should not be as it were 32of necessity, but willingly.
For 33perhaps he therefore 34departed 35for a season, that thou shouldest receive him 36for ever;
37Not now as a servant, but above a servant, 38a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both 39in the flesh, and in the 40Lord?
If thou count me therefore 41a partner, receive him 42as myself.
If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee 43ought, 44put that on mine account;
45I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even 46thine own self besides.
47Yea, brother, let me have 48joy 49of thee 50in the Lord: 51refresh 52my bowels in the Lord.
Having confidence 53in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
54But withal prepare me also ah lodging: fori I trust that 55through your prayers I 56shall be given unto you.
There salute thee Epaphras,j my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
Marcus,k Aristarchus,l Demas,m Lucas,n my fellowlabourers.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be 57with your spirit. Amen.