⁴Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God. ⁵For I hear of your love for all God’s people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ. ⁷Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all God’s people.

A Request for Onesimus

⁸For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. ⁹But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.^a ¹⁰^*So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. ¹¹At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful^b both to you and to me.

¹²I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart. ¹³I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel’s sake, so that he could help me in your place. ¹⁴However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.

¹⁵It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. ¹⁶And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!

¹⁷So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me. ¹⁸If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account. ¹⁹Here, I will write this with my own hand: I, Paul, will pay you back. (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.) ²⁰So, my brother, please do me this favour for the Lord’s sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!

²¹I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask—in fact I know that you will do even more. ²²At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.

Final Greetings

²³^*Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, ²⁴^*and so do my fellow-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.

²⁵May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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Footnotes

athe ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake; or an old man, and at present a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.
bThe Greek name Onesimus means “useful”.

Cross references

*1.2: Col 4:17
*1.10: Col 4:9
*1.23: Col 1:7; 4:12
*1.24 a: Ac 12:12, 25; 13:13; 15:37–39; Col 4:10 1.24 b: Ac 19:29; 27:2; Col 4:10 1.24 c: Col 4:14; 2 Ti 4:10 1.24 d: Col 4:14; 2 Ti 4:11