8 Therefore, athough I have 1enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is bproper,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather aappeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, 1the baged, and now also ca prisoner of dChrist Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I aappeal to you for my bchild 1cOnesimus, whom I have begotten in my 2imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my 1aimprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would anot be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

15 For perhaps ahe was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

16 ano longer as a slave, but more than a slave, ba beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both cin the flesh and in the Lord.