1:1  Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,

1:2  to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

1:3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4  I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

1:5  hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

1:6  that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

1:7  For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

1:8  Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,

1:9  yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—

1:10  I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,

1:11  who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

1:12  I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

1:13  whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

1:14  But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

1:15  For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

1:16  no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

1:17  If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

1:18  But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

1:19  I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay'not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

1:20  Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

1:21  Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

1:22  But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

1:23  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

1:24  as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

1:25  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.