Philemon - Chapter 1

Passage

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer, And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of you in my prayers. Hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints: That the communication of your faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work that is in you in Christ Jesus. For I have had great joy and consolation in your charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus to command you that which is to the purpose: For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas you are such a one, as Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ. I beseech you for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus, Who has been heretofore unprofitable to you but now is profitable both to me and you: Whom I have sent back to you. And do you receive him as my own bowels. Whom I would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel. But without your counsel I would do nothing: that your good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from you that you might receive him again for ever: Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me. But how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord? If therefore you count me a partner, receive him as myself. And if he has wronged you in any thing or is in your debt, put that to my account. I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to you that you owe me your own self also. Yea, brother. May I enjoy you in the Lord! Refresh my bowels in the Lord. Trusting in your obedience, I have written to you: knowing that you will also do more than I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you. There salute you Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus: Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow labourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.