| 1. | Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved and our co-worker, |
| 2. | to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at your house. |
| 3. | Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 4. | I give thanks to my God always, remembering you in my prayers, |
| 5. | as I hear of the love and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones, |
| 6. | so that your partnership in the faith may become effective in recognizing every good there is in us that leads to Christ. |
| 7. | For I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. |
| 8. | Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, |
| 9. | I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. |
| 10. | I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, |
| 11. | who was once useless to you but is now useful to (both) you and me. |
| 12. | I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. |
| 13. | I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, |
| 14. | but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. |
| 15. | Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, |
| 16. | no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. |
| 17. | So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. |
| 18. | And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me. |
| 19. | I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self. |
| 20. | Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. |
| 21. | With trust in your compliance I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. |
| 22. | At the same time prepare a guest room for me, for I hope to be granted to you through your prayers. |
| 23. | Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, |
| 24. | as well as Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. |
| 25. | The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |
