✧Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, ✧2to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: ✧3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ✧4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, ✧5hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, ✧6that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. ✧7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. ✧8Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, ✧9yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. ✧10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains, ✧11who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. ✧12
World English Bible (WEB). World English Bible (Protestant edition). Public domain.
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
✧13whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
✧14But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
✧15For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,
✧16no 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.
✧17If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
✧18But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
✧19I, 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).
✧20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
✧21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
✧22Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
✧23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
✧24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
✧25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.