1 P aul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman,

2 a nd to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which in thine house.

3 G race to you and peace from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers,

5 h earing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints,

6 i n such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ.

7 F or we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 W herefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

9 f or love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in bonds, Onesimus,

11 o nce unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:

12 w hom I have sent back to thee: him, that is, my bowels:

13 w hom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

14 b ut I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:

15 f or perhaps for this reason he has been separated for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever;

16 n ot any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in flesh and in Lord?

17 I f therefore thou holdest me to be a partner, receive him as me;

18 b ut if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything, put this to my account.

19 I Paul have written with mine own hand; I will repay: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me.

20 Y ea, brother, I would have profit of thee in Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ.

21 B eing confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

22 B ut withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers.

23 E paphras salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 M ark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

25 T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with your spirit.