1:1 From Paul, 1 a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 2 and Timothy our 3 brother, to Philemon, our dear friend 4 and colaborer, 1:2 to Apphia 5 our sister, 6 to Archippus our 7 fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. 1:3 Grace and peace to you 8 from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
1:4 I always thank my God 9 as I remember you in my prayers, 10 1:5 because I hear 11 of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love 12 for all the saints. 13 1:6 I pray 14 that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing 15 that belongs to you 16 in Christ. 17 1:7 I 18 have had great joy and encouragement because 19 of your love, for the hearts 20 of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
1:8 So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper, 1:9 I would rather appeal 21 to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man 22 and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus 23 – 1:10 I am appealing 24 to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become 25 during my imprisonment, 26 that is, Onesimus, 1:11 who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you 27 and me. 1:12 I have sent 28 him (who is my very heart) 29 back to you. 1:13 I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place 30 during 31 my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. 32 1:14 However, 33 without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. 1:15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally, 34 1:16 no longer as a slave, 35 but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking 36 and in the Lord. 1:17 Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. 1:18 Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes 37 to me. 1:19 I, Paul, have written 38 this letter 39 with my own hand: 40 I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe 41 me your very self. 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 42 1:21 Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than 43 what I am asking you to do. 1:22 At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.