Philemon 1
1
1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker – 2also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier – and to the church that meets in your home:
3Grace and peace to you#1:3 The Greek is plural; also in verses 22 and 25; elsewhere in this letter ‘you’ is singular. from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and prayer
4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul’s plea for Onesimus
8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul – an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus – 10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,#1:10 Onesimus means useful. who became my son while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12I am sending him – who is my very heart – back to you. 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for ever – 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back – not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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Philemon 1: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
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Philemon 1
1
1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;
2And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.
5Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:
6That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.
7For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.
8Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:
9For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.
10I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,
11Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,
12Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.
13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:
14But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.
15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever:
16Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?
17If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.
18And if he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is in thy debt, put that to my account.
19I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.
20Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow labourers.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.