Philemon 4–21

Paul Prays and Gives Thanks

⁴I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers. ⁵That’s because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I hear about your love for all of God’s people. ⁶I pray that you will be active in sharing what you believe. Then you will completely understand every good thing we have in Christ.

⁷Your love has given me great joy. It has cheered me up. My brother, you have renewed the hearts of God’s people.

Paul Makes an Appeal for Onesimus

⁸Because of the authority Christ has given me, I could be bold. I could order you to do what you should do anyway. ⁹But I make my appeal to you on the basis of our love for each other.

I, Paul, am an old man. I am now also a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. ¹⁰I make an appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held by chains. ¹¹Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me.

¹²I’m sending Onesimus back to you. My very heart goes with him. ¹³I would have liked to keep him with me. Then he could have taken your place in helping me while I’m being held by chains because of the good news. ¹⁴But I didn’t want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favor you do must be done because you want to do it, not because you have to.

¹⁵Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back for good. ¹⁶You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me. But he is even more dear to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷Do you think of me as a believer who works together with you? Then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. ¹⁸Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Then charge it to me. ¹⁹I’ll pay it back. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I won’t even mention that you owe me your very life.

²⁰My brother, I wish I could receive some benefit from you because we both belong to the Lord. Renew my heart. We know that Christ is the one who really renews it. ²¹I’m sure you will obey. So I’m writing to you. I know you will do even more than I ask.