Philemon Chapter 1

1 : 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and co-workman,

1 : 2 and to the beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy house:

1 : 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 : 4 I thank my God, making recollection of thee always in my prayers,

1 : 5 hearing of thy love and faith, which thou have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the sanctified,

1 : 6 so that the fellowship of thy faith may become potent (in the knowledge of every good thing in us) for Christ Jesus.

1 : 7 For we have much joy and encouragement in thy love, because the bowels of the sanctified have been refreshed by thee, brother.

1 : 8 Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,

1 : 9 because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

1 : 10 I beseech thee for my child Onesimus, whom I begot in my bonds.

1 : 11 A man formerly unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back.

1 : 12 And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.

1 : 13 Whom I wanted to keep back for myself, so that in thy behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the good news.

1 : 14 But I wanted to do nothing without thy mind, so that thy goodness might not be as from obligation, but from volition.

1 : 15 For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever,

1 : 16 no longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in flesh and in the Lord.

1 : 17 If then thou have me a partner, accept him as myself.

1 : 18 But if he has wronged thee, or owes anything, charge this to me.

1 : 19 I Paul write with my hand, I will repay, so that I may not say to thee that thou owe me in return even thyself.

1 : 20 Yes, brother, let me have a favor of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

1 : 21 Being confident in thine obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou will do above what I say.

1 : 22 But simultaneously also prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that by your prayers I will be granted to you.

1 : 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee,

1 : 24 and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-workmen.

1 : 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Truly.