Philemon 1

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

Grateful for Philemon

⁴I always thank my Father as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵because I hear of your love and faith in the Lord Jesus and for all his holy people. ⁶I pray your shared faith becomes effective as you come to understand every good thing we have in Christ. ⁷Your love has brought me great joy and comfort, brother, since you've refreshed the hearts of his holy people.

A Plea, Not a Command

⁸Therefore, although in Christ I am bold enough to command you to do what is right, ⁹instead, for love's sake I appeal—I, Paul, an old man, now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. ¹⁰I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains. ¹¹He was once useless to you, but now is useful to you and me. ^a a v11 The name Onesimus means "useful" — Paul is playfully turning the runaway slave's own name into the heart of his appeal. ¹²I am sending him back to you—and in doing so I am sending my very heart. ¹³I wanted to keep him with me, to serve me on your behalf while I'm in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴But I wanted to do nothing without your consent, so your good deed would not be forced, but voluntary. ¹⁵Perhaps this is why he was separated from you briefly, so you'd have him back forever. ¹⁶No longer as a slave, but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸If he wronged you at all, or owes anything, put it on my account. ¹⁹I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I'll repay it—not to mention you owe me yourself as well. ²⁰Yes, brother, do me this favor in the Lord — refresh my heart in Christ.

²¹Trusting you'll obey, I write to you, knowing you'll do even more than I ask.

²²Also prepare a guest room for me — I hope through your prayers to be graciously given back to you.

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

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