\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Philemon}

{\MT Philemon


\par }\OneChap {\PP \VerseOne{1}Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,

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

\VS{3}May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.

\VS{5}I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.

\VS{6}I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.

\VS{7}For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,

\VS{9}yet because of love, I appeal to you instead—I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

\VS{10}I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.

\VS{11}For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

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

\VS{13}I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.

\VS{14}But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.

\VS{15}Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever.

\VS{16}No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.

\VS{17}So if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.

\VS{18}If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.

\VS{19}I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I myself will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your own self!

\VS{20}Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.


\par }{\PP \VS{21}Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.

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


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

\VS{24}So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.


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


\par }