*Paul, aa prisoner of Jesus Christ, and bTimothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and cdfellowlabourer, 2 and to our beloved Apphia, and eArchippus our cfellowsoldier, and to fthe church in thy house: 3 gGrace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 hI thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 ihearing of thy jlove and jfaith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual kby the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For lwe have great joy and mconsolation in thy love, because nthe bowels of the saints oare refreshed by thee, brother. 8 Wherefore, pthough I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee qthat which is convenient, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather rbeseech thee, being such an one as Paul sthe aged, and now also aa prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I rbeseech thee for ssmy son tOnesimus, uwhom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 which in time past was to thee vunprofitable, but now wprofitable to thee and to me: 12 whom I have xsent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, ymine own bowels: 13 whom I would have zretained with me, that ain thy stead he might have ministered unto me in bthe bonds of the gospel: 14 but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should cdnot be as it were of necessity, dbut willingly. 15 eFor perhaps he therefore departed ffor a season, that thou shouldest greceive him for ever; 16 hnot now as a servant, but above a servant, ia brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both kin the flesh, and in the Lord? 17 If thou count me therefore la partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19 mI Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: nalbeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 20 Yea, brother, let me ohave joy of thee in the Lord: prefresh my bowels in the Lord. 21 qHaving confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22 But withal prepare me also ra lodging: for sI trust that tthrough your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23 ttThere salute thee uEpaphras, vmy fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 24 wMarcus, xAristarchus, yDemas, yLucas, zmy fellowlabourers. 25 zzThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Written afrom Rome to Philemon, bby Onesimus a servant.