Philemon 1:1-13 ▼

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

2 and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:

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

4 I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,

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

6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that is in you toward Christ Jesus;

7 for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

8 Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --

9 because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

10 I entreat thee concerning my child -- whom I did beget in my bonds -- Onesimus,

11 who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,

12 whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

13 whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,