⁴I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵because I hear of your love ⁱand faith toward ^jthe Lord Jesus and for all the saints. ⁶I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective ^kthrough knowing every good thing ^lthat is in us ^mfor the glory of Christ. ⁷For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed ⁿthrough 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 ^oand now also as a prisoner ^pof Christ Jesus, ¹⁰appeal to you for my son, ^qOnesimus. ^r^sI fathered ^t^uhim while I was in chains. ¹¹Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Read in Logos

Philemon 6: … I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Footnotes

e2 Other read our beloved
j5 faith that you have toward
m6 Other read in you
o9 Or an ambassador
r10 In Gk, Onesimus means useful.
t10 Referring to the fact that Paul led him to Christ; 1Co 4:15

Cross references

a1 Ac 13:9
b1 2Tm 1:8; Heb 13:3
c1 Rm 1:1
d1 Ac 16:1; 1Tm 1:2
f2 Col 4:17
g2 Php 2:25
h2 Ac 12:12; Rm 16:5
i5 Dt 6:5; Mt 22:37; Gl 5:6, 22; Eph 6:23; 1Th 1:3; 3:6; 5:8; 1Tm 1:14; 1Jn 4:20
k6 Gl 5:6
l6 Gn 1:31; 18:18; 3Jn 11
n7 Lk 12:19; 2Tm 1:16
p9 2Tm 1:8; Heb 13:3
q10 1Th 2:11
s10 Col 4:9
u10 1Co 4:15