Philemon 1–16

*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?