TO PHILEMON 1
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Ihsou, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow worker, 2 and to Apphia our beloved, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that is in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Ihsou Christ. 4 I thank my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Ihsou and toward all the saints, 6 that the fellowship of your faith may be made effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in you in Christ Ihsou. 7 For we have great joy and supplication for your love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed through you, brother. 8 Having much boldness in Christ to exhort you, 9 I rather beseech you for love's sake, being such as Paul the elder, and now also a prisoner of Ihsou Christ. 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my chains, 11 who was once useless to you, but now useful to you and to me. 12 I sent him away, but you, who is my heart, bring him back to me. 13 I wanted to keep him for myself, so that he might serve me in your behalf in the bonds of the gospel. 14 But without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good might not be done as needed, but as I wished. 15 For this reason he was separated for a time, that you might be free from him forever. 16 No longer as a slave, but as a slave, a beloved brother, and indeed to me, how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 If you have me as a partner, receive him as I am. 18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, let him tell me. 19 I Paul wrote it with my own hand, I am writing it, so that I may not tell you that you owe me even yourself. 20 Yes, brother, I commend you to the Lord; give my bowels rest in the Lord. 21 Confident of your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you will also do what I say. 22 And also prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Ihsou, greets you, 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of our Lord Ihsou Christ be with your spirit. Amen.