¹²I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.^j ¹³I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,^* ¹⁴but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.^* ¹⁵Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, ¹⁶no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.^*

¹⁷So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.^* ¹⁸If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. ¹⁹I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. ²⁰Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.^k ²¹Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.^*

²²One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.^*

Final Greetings and Benediction

²³Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,^l^* ²⁴and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.^*

²⁵The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^m^*

Read in Logos

Footnotes

jOther ancient authorities read you; receive him
kOther ancient authorities read in the Lord
lHere you is singular
mOther ancient authorities add Amen

Cross references

*Phil 1:7
*2 Cor 9:7; 1 Pet 5:2
*Mt 23:8; Col 3:22; 1 Tim 6:2
*2 Cor 8:23
*2 Cor 2:3
*Acts 28:23; 2 Cor 1:11; Phil 1:25; 2:24
*Col 1:7
*Acts 12:12; Col 4:10
*2 Tim 4:22