Philemon 8–23

⁸Wherefore, though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus to command thee that which is to the purpose:

⁹For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

¹¹Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee but now is profitable both to me and thee:

¹²Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

¹³Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel.

¹⁴But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

¹⁵For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee that thou mightest receive him again for ever:

¹⁶Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me. But how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

¹⁷If therefore thou count me a partner, receive him as myself.

¹⁸And if he hath wronged thee in any thing or is in thy debt, put that to my account.

¹⁹I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee that thou owest me thy own self also.

²⁰Yea, brother. May I enjoy thee in the Lord! Refresh my bowels in the Lord.

²¹Trusting in thy obedience, I have written to thee: knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

²²But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

²³There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus: