Philemon 4–21

PHILEMON’S LOVE AND FAITH

⁴I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵because I hear of your love^h for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶I pray that your participation in the faith may become effectiveⁱ through knowing every good thing^j that is in us^B for the glory of Christ. ⁷For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed^k through you, brother.

AN APPEAL FOR ONESIMUS

⁸For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, ⁹I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man^C and now also as a prisoner^l of Christ Jesus, ¹⁰appeal to you for my son,^m Onesimus.^Dn I became his father^o while I was in chains. ¹¹Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. ¹²I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.^{EF 13}I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. ¹⁴But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. ¹⁵For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, ¹⁶no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh^p and in the Lord.^q

¹⁷So if you consider me a partner, welcome^r him as you would me. ¹⁸And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.^{s 19}I, Paul, write this with my own hand:^t I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. ²⁰Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.