Philemon

¹From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy, to Philemon, our friend and fellow worker, ²to our dear sister Apphia, to Archippus, faithful companion in our soldiering, and all the Church gathered in your house.

³Grace and peace be with you from God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Lord.

⁴I never cease to give thanks to my God when I remember you in my prayers, ⁵for I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord and all the holy ones. ⁶And I pray that the sharing of your faith may make known all the good that is ours in Christ. ⁷I had great satisfaction and comfort hearing of your charity because the hearts of the saints have been cheered by you, brother.

⁸Because of this, although in Christ I have the freedom to command what you should do, ⁹yet I prefer to request you, in love. The one talking is Paul, the old man, now a prisoner for Christ. ¹⁰And my request is on behalf of Onesimus, whose father I have become while I was in prison.

¹¹This Onesimus has not been helpful to you, but now he will be helpful to you and me. ¹²In returning him to you, I am sending you my own heart. ¹³I would have liked to keep him at my side, to serve me on your behalf while I am in prison for the gospel, ¹⁴but I did not want to do anything without your agreement, nor impose a good deed upon you without your free consent.

¹⁵Perhaps Onesimus has been parted from you for a while so that you may have him back forever, ¹⁶no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, for he is a very dear brother to me, and he will be even dearer to you. ¹⁷And so, because of our friendship, receive him as if he were I myself. ¹⁸And if he has caused any harm or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹I, Paul, write this and sign it with my hand: I will pay it… without further mention of your debt to me, which is you yourself. ²⁰So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this comfort in Christ.

²¹Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing you will do even more than I ask. ²²And one more thing, get a lodging ready for me because, thanks to all your prayers, I hope to return to you.

²³Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings. ²⁴So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my assistants.

²⁵May the grace of the Lord Christ be with you. Amen!