Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and coworker,

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

to Apphia, our beloved sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house:

And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank my God as I mention you in my prayers,

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

because I hear about your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

I appeal instead, on the basis of love. Being such as I am—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I became a father to while in my chains.

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

I am sending him back to you—he is my very heart.

Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel on your behalf.

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of compulsion but of your own free will.

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever.

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

No longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the physical relationship and in the Lord.

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

If then you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me even your very self.

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

At the same time also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.