\NormalFont\ShortTitle{PHILEMON}

{\MT Philemon



\par }\OneChap {\SH Greeting
\par }
{\MM \VerseOne{1}From Paul, who is a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy.

\par }{\PP To our dear coworker Philemon,

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


\par }{\PP \VS{3}Good will \FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:3 }{\FT{Or
}}{\FQA{“Grace.”}}} and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!


\par }{\SH Paul’s Prayer for Philemon
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{\MM \VS{4}{\ADD{⌞Philemon,⌟}} I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers because

\VS{5}I hear about your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.

\VS{6}As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we have in Christ.

\VS{7}Your love
{\ADD{⌞for God’s people⌟}} gives me a lot of joy and encouragement. You, brother, have comforted God’s people.


\par }{\SH Paul’s Advice about Onesimus
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{\MM \VS{8}Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing.

\VS{9}However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

\VS{10}appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in prison.

\VS{11}Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself.

\VS{13}I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading the Good News.

\VS{14}Yet, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will without feeling forced to do it.


\par }{\PP \VS{15}Maybe Onesimus was gone for a while so that you could have him back forever—

\VS{16}no longer as a slave but better than a slave—as a dear brother. He is especially dear to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a Christian.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

\VS{18}If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.

\VS{19}I, Paul, promise to pay it back. I’m writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your life.

\VS{20}So, because we’re brothers in the Lord, do something for me. Give me some comfort because of Christ.

\VS{21}I am confident as I write to you that you will do this. And I know that you will do even more than I ask.


\par }{\PP \VS{22}One more thing—have a guest room ready for me. I hope that, because of your prayers, God will give me back to you.


\par }{\SH Greetings from Paul’s Coworkers
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{\MM \VS{23}Epaphras, who is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus like I am,

\VS{24}and my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send you greetings.


\par }{\PP \VS{25}The good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours.

\par }