Philemon 1:1-16 ▼

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

2 And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:

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

4 I give thanks to my God, always making a remembrance of thee in my prayers.

5 Hearing of thy charity and faith, which thou hast in the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints:

6 That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.

7 For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:

9 For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

11 Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

12 Whom I have sent back to thee. And do thou receive him as my own bowels.

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:

14 But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever:

16 Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?