Philemon 1–11
1 Paul, a prisonera of Christ Jesus, and Timothyb our brother,c
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow workerd—2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippuse our fellow soldierf—and to the church that meets in your home:g
3 Grace and peace to youa from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.h
4 I always thank my Godi as I remember you in my prayers,j 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy peoplek and your faith in the Lord Jesus.l 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,m because you, brother, have refreshedn the hearts of the Lord’s people.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to youo on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisonerp of Christ Jesus—10 that I appeal to you for my sonq Onesimus,b r who became my son while I was in chains.s 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.