Philemon 8–17

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, ⁹yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.^{g 10}I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.^{* 11}Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful^h toⁱ you and to me. ¹²I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.^{j 13}I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,^{* 14}but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.^{* 15}Perhaps 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.^*