Philemon 1

¹Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow-laborer,

²and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

⁴I thank my God at all times, making mention of thee in my prayers,

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

⁶that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us, for Christ Jesus.

⁷For we have great thankfulness and comfort on account of thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

⁸Wherefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to enjoin upon thee that which is befitting,

⁹yet for love’s sake I beseech thee rather; being such a one as Paul an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

¹⁰I beseech thee for my child, whom I begot in my bonds, Onesimus;

¹¹who in time past was unprofitable to thee, but is now profitable to thee and to me;

¹²whom I have sent back; and do thou [receive] him, that is, my own flesh.

¹³Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel;

¹⁴but I chose to do nothing without thy consent, that thy benefit may be not as from necessity, but willingly.

¹⁵For perhaps he was separated from thee for a season to this end, that thou shouldst receive him back as thine for ever;

¹⁶no longer as a bond-servant, but above a bond-servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord!

¹⁷If thou then regardest me as a partner, receive him as myself.

¹⁸And if he wronged thee in anything, or oweth thee, put that to my account.

¹⁹I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it; not to say to thee, that to me thou owest even thy own self besides.

²⁰Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

²¹Having confidence in thy obedience I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say.

²²And at the same time make ready a lodging for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

²³Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus,

²⁴Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

²⁵The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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.