Philemon 1:1-12 ▼

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy 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 in my prayers,

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

6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

7 For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

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

10 I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

11 who was aforetime unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

12 whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart: