Philemon 1:1-12 ▼

1 Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman,

2 and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which [is] in thine house.

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

4 I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers,

5 hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints,

6 in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ [Jesus].

7 For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting,

9 for love's sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in [my] bonds, Onesimus,

11 once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:

12 whom I have sent back to thee: [but do thou receive] him, that is, my bowels: