\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Philemon}

{\MT Philemon



\par }\OneChap {\SH Salutation
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{\PP \VerseOne{1}From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,

\VS{2}to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.

\VS{3}Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!


\par }{\SH Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
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{\PP \VS{4}I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,

\VS{5}because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

\VS{6}I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.

\VS{7}I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.


\par }{\SH Paul’s Request for Onesimus
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{\PP \VS{8}So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,

\VS{9}I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus –

\VS{10}I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,

\VS{11}who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.

\VS{12}I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.

\VS{13}I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.

\VS{14}However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.

\VS{15}For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,

\VS{16}no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.

\VS{17}Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

\VS{18}Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.

\VS{19}I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.

\VS{20}Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

\VS{21}Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.

\VS{22}At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.


\par }{\SH Concluding Greetings
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{\PP \VS{23}Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

\VS{24}Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.

\VS{25}May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.


\par }