Philemon 1

¹Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper,

²And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:

³Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

⁴I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,

⁵(When I heare of thy loue and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and towarde all Saintes)

⁶That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.

⁷For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.

⁸Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaund thee that which is conuenient,

⁹Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.

¹⁰I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,

¹¹Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,

¹²Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels,

¹³Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel.

¹⁴But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.

¹⁵It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer,

¹⁶Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, euen as a brother beloued, specially to me: howe much more then vnto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

¹⁷If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe.

¹⁸If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.

¹⁹I Paul haue written this with mine owne hande: I will recompense it, albeit I doe not say to thee, that thou owest moreouer vnto me euen thine owne selfe.

²⁰Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.

²¹Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.

²²Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.

²³There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,

²⁴Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.

²⁵The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, and send by Onesimus a seruant.

Philemon 1

¹Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

²And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

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

⁵Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

⁶That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

⁷For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

⁸Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

⁹Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

¹¹Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

¹²Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

¹³Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

¹⁴But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

¹⁵For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

¹⁶Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

¹⁷If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

¹⁸If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

¹⁹I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

²⁰Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

²¹Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

²²But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

²³There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

²⁴Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

²⁵The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.