1 From Paul, who is in jail for serving Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is like a brother because of our faith.
Philemon, you work with us and are very dear to us. This letter is to you 2 and to the church that meets in your home. It is also to our dear friend Apphia and to Archippus, who serves the Lord as we do.
3 I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 Philemon, each time I mention you in my prayers, I thank God. 5 I hear about your faith in our Lord Jesus and about your love for all God's people. 6 As you share your faith with others, I pray they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us. 7 My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me. It has also cheered the hearts of God's people.
Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus
8 Christ gives me the courage to tell you what to do. 9 But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love. Yes, as someone in jail for Christ, 10 I beg you to help Onesimus! He is like a son to me because I led him to Christ here in jail. 11 Before this, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 Sending Onesimus back to you makes me very sad. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, where he could take your place in helping me while I am here in prison for preaching the good news. 14 But I won't do anything unless you agree to it first. I want your act of kindness to come from your heart, and not be something you feel forced to do.
15 Perhaps Onesimus was taken from you for a little while so you could have him back for good, 16 but not as a slave. Onesimus is much more than a slave. To me he is a dear friend, but to you he is even more, both as a person and as a follower of the Lord.
17 If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 18 If he has cheated you or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19 With my own hand I write: I, PAUL, WILL PAY YOU BACK. But don't forget you owe me your life. 20 My dear friend and follower of Christ our Lord, please cheer me up by doing this for me.
21 I am sure you will do all I have asked, and even more. 22 Please get a room ready for me. I hope your prayers will be answered, and I can visit you.
23 Epaphras is also here in jail for being a follower of Christ Jesus. He sends his greetings, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, who work together with me.
25 I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you!
1 Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper, 2 And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house: 3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ. 4 I 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) 6 That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen. 7 For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted. 8 Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaund thee that which is conuenient, 9 Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ. 10 I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes, 11 Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me, 12 Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels, 13 Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel. 14 But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly. 15 It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer, 16 Not 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? 17 If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe. 18 If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts. 19 I 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. 20 Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord. 21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say. 22 Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you. 23 There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus, 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers. 25 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. ‘Written from Rome to Philemon, and send by Onesimus a seruant.’