
The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

   {1:1} Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to
Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, {1:2} and to Apphia our sister,
and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:
{1:3} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. {1:4} I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my
prayers, {1:5} hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast
toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; {1:6} that the
fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every
good thing which is in you, unto Christ. {1:7} For I had much joy and
comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been
refreshed through thee, brother. {1:8} Wherefore, though I have all
boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, {1:9} yet
for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged,
and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: {1:10} I beseech thee for my
child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, {1:11} who once was
unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me: {1:12}
whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very
heart: {1:13} whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf
he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel: {1:14} but
without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as
of necessity, but of free will. {1:15} For perhaps he was therefore
parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;
{1:16} no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother
beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the
flesh and in the Lord. {1:17} If then thou countest me a partner,
receive him as myself. {1:18} But if he hath wronged thee at all, or
oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account; {1:19} I Paul write it
with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou
owest to me even thine own self besides. {1:20} Yea, brother, let me
have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. {1:21} Having
confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt
do even beyond what I say. {1:22} But withal prepare me also a lodging:
for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.
{1:23} Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;
{1:24} [and so do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.
{1:25} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.




