1: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, 2: and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house: 3: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4: I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, 5: hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; 6: that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ. 7: For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother. 8: Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, 9: yet for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: 10: I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, 11: who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me: 12: whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart: 13: whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14: but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15: For perhaps he was therefore parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; 16: no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17: If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself. 18: But if he hath wronged the at all, or oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account; 19: I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides. 20: Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. 21: Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say. 22: But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you. 23: Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee; 24: [and so do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers. 25: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
