Philemon 1:1-13 ▼

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dear friend and coworker,

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.

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

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.

6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.

7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains.

11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.

13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place.