THE EPISTLE OF THE
APOSTLE PAUL
TO
PHILEMON

Philemon ©

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PAUL, 1aa prisoner of Jesus Christ, and 2Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and 3fellowlabourer,

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And to our beloved 4Apphia, and 5Archippusb our 6fellowsoldier, and to the church 7in thy house:c

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8Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Id thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

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Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward 9the Lord Jesus, and toward all 10saints;

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That 11the communication of thy faith may become 12effectual 13by the acknowledging of 14every good thing which is in you 15in Christ Jesus.

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For we have great 16joy and consolation in thy love, because 17the bowels of the saints are 18refreshed by thee, 19brother.

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Wherefore, though I might be much bold 20in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

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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.

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Ie beseech thee for 23my son Onesimus, whomf I 24have begotten in my bonds:

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Which in time past was to 25thee unprofitable, but now 26profitable to thee and to me:

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Whom I have sent again: thou therefore 27receive him, that is, 28mine own bowels:g

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Whom I would have retained with me, that in 29thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds 30of the gospel:

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But without thy mind would I do nothing; that 31thy benefit should not be as it were 32of necessity, but willingly.

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For 33perhaps he therefore 34departed 35for a season, that thou shouldest receive him 36for ever;

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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?

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If thou count me therefore 41a partner, receive him 42as myself.

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If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee 43ought, 44put that on mine account;

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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.

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47Yea, brother, let me have 48joy 49of thee 50in the Lord: 51refresh 52my bowels in the Lord.

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Having confidence 53in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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54But withal prepare me also ah lodging: fori I trust that 55through your prayers I 56shall be given unto you.

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There salute thee Epaphras,j my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

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Marcus,k Aristarchus,l Demas,m Lucas,n my fellowlabourers.

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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be 57with your spirit. Amen.