^1:10I am appealing²⁴ to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become²⁵ during my imprisonment,²⁶ that is, Onesimus, ^1:11who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you²⁷ and me.

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Footnotes

24 Or “I am encouraging …”
25 Grk “my child whom I have begotten.” The adjective “spiritual” has been supplied before “father” in the translation to clarify for the modern reader that Paul did not literally father a child during his imprisonment. Paul’s point is that he was instrumental in Onesimus’ conversion while in prison.
26 During my imprisonment. Apparently Onesimus became a believer under Paul’s shepherding while he [Paul] was a prisoner in Rome.
27 A correlative καί (kai, “both you”) is found in a few witnesses (א*,c F G 33 104 ), perhaps either to underscore the value of Onesimus or in imitation of the νυνὶ δὲ καί (nuni de kai) in v. 9. The lack of καί is read by most witnesses, including א2 A C D 0278 1739 1881 𝔐 it. Although a decision is difficult, the shorter reading has a slight edge in both internal and external evidence. places the καί in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)

NIVNew International Version (2011)

that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains. Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

NLTNew Living Translation

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus. Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to you and to me,

KJV 1900King James Version

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

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