\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Philemon}
{\MT Philemon

\par }\OneChap {\PP \VerseOne{1}Greetings from Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, our brother.
\par }{\PP To Philemon, our dear friend and worker with us.
\VS{2}Also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, who serves with us in the Lord’s army, and to the church that meets in your home.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
\par }{\SH Philemon’s Love and Faith
\par }{\PP \VS{4}I remember you in my prayers. And I always thank my God for you.
\VS{5}I thank God because I hear about the love you have for all of God’s holy people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.
\VS{6}I pray that the faith you share will make you understand every blessing we have in Christ.
\VS{7}My brother, you have shown love to God’s people, and your help has greatly encouraged them. What a great joy and encouragement that has been to me.
\par }{\SH Accept Onesimus as a Brother
\par }{\PP \VS{8}There is something that you should do. And because of the authority I have in Christ, I feel free to command you to do it.
\VS{9}But I am not commanding you; I am asking you to do it out of love. I, Paul, am an old man now, and I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
\VS{10}I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison.
\VS{11}In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:11 }
{\FK{useless … useful
}}{\FT{Paul here makes a play on words with the name Onesimus, which means “useful.”}}} for both you and me.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}I am sending him back to you, but it’s as hard as losing part of myself.
\VS{13}I would like to keep him here to help me while I am still in prison for telling the Good News. By helping me here, he would be representing you.
\VS{14}But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then whatever you do for me will be what you want to do, not what I forced you to do.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Onesimus was separated from you for a short time. Maybe that happened so that you could have him back forever,
\VS{16}not to be just a slave, but better than a slave, to be a dear brother. That’s what he is to me. And I know he will mean even more to you, both as your slave and as one who shares your faith in the Lord.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}If you accept me as your friend, then accept Onesimus back. Welcome him like you would welcome me.
\VS{18}If he has done any wrong to you or owes you anything, charge that to me.
\VS{19}I, Paul, am writing this in my own handwriting: I will pay back anything Onesimus owes. And I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life.
\VS{20}So, my brother, as a follower of the Lord please do this favor\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:20 }
{\FK{please do this favor
}}{\FT{Paul here makes another wordplay on the name Onesimus, using a verb related to it.}}} for me. It would be such a great encouragement to me as your brother in Christ.
\VS{21}I write this letter knowing that you will do what I ask, and even more than I ask.
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Also, please prepare a room for me. I hope that God will answer your prayers and that I will be able to come and see you.
\par }{\SH Final Greetings
\par }{\PP \VS{23}Epaphras is a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus. He sends you his greetings.
\VS{24}Also Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send their greetings. They are workers together with me.
\par }{\PP \VS{25}The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
\par }