Greeting

1 Paul, a aprisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to 1the beloved Apphia, bArchippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 cI thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 dhearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective eby the acknowledgment of fevery good thing which is in 2you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we 3have great 4joy and 5consolation in your love, because the 6hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—10 I appeal to you for my son gOnesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.