Philemon 1:1-13 ▼

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

2 and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your 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 you in my prayers,

5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;

6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you in Christ.

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

8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

9 yet on the basis of love I rather appeal, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.

10 I appeal to you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

12 I am sending back to you, him who is my very heart,

13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.