Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)

1Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper, 2And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house: 3Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers, 5(When I heare of thy loue & faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and towarde all Saintes) 6That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen. 7For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaunde thee that which is conuenient, 9Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.

10I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes, 11Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me, 12Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels, 13Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel. 14But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly. 15It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer, 16Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, euen as a brother beloued, specially to me: howe much more then vnto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

17If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe. 18If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts. 19I Paul haue written this with mine owne hande: I will recompense it, albeit I doe not say to thee, that thou owest moreouer vnto me euen thine owne selfe. 20Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: comfort my bowels in the Lorde.

21Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.

22Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.

Additional Greetings

23There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus, 24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.

25The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, and sent by Onesimus a seruant.