1 P aul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,

2 t o the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

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

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 h earing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

6 t hat the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

7 F or we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 T herefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

9 y et for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

11 w ho once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

13 w hom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.

14 B ut I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

15 F or perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,

16 n o longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 I f then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

18 B ut if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.

19 I , Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).

20 Y es, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 H aving confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

22 A lso, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 E paphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 a s do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

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