Filemom 1

Greeting

1 Paul, a *Eph. 3:1prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, *Col. 4:17Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 *Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 *Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; 1 Thess. 3:6hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective *Phil. 1:9; (Col. 1:9; 3:10; James 2:14–17)by the acknowledgment of *(1 Thess. 5:18)every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal toyou—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son *Col. 4:9Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, *2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the *Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22flesh and in the Lord.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as youwould me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own *1 Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; 2 Thess. 3:17hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 *2 Cor. 7:16Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for *Phil. 1:25; 2:24I trust that *2 Cor. 1:11through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Farewell

23 *Col. 1:7; 4:12Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 asdo*Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37–39; Col. 4:10Mark, *Acts 19:29; 27:2; Col. 4:10Aristarchus, *Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10Demas, *2 Tim. 4:11Luke, my fellow laborers.

25 *2 Tim. 4:22The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.