Philemon 1:1-24 ▼

1 Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and brother Timotheus: Unto Philemo the beloued, and our felowe labourer,

2 And to the beloued Apphia, and to Archippus our felowe souldier, and to the Churche in thy house:

3 Grace to you, and peace from God our father, and the Lorde Iesus Christ.

4 I thanke my God, makyng mention alwayes of thee in my prayers,

5 Hearyng of thy loue and fayth, which thou hast towarde the Lorde Iesus, and towarde all saintes:

6 That the felowshippe of thy fayth may be effectuall in the knowledge of euery good worke which is in you, towarde Christe Iesus.

7 For we haue great ioy & consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the saintes are refresshed by thee, brother.

8 Wherfore, though I myght be much bolde in Christe, to inioyne thee that which is conuenient:

9 Yet for loues sake, I rather beseche thee, beyng such a one as Paul the aged, & nowe also a prisoner of Iesus Christe.

10 I beseche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whom I haue begotten in my bondes:

11 Which in tyme passed, was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable to thee and to me.

12 Whom I haue sent agayne: Thou therefore receaue hym, that is, myne owne bowels,

13 Whom I woulde haue retayned with me, that in thy steade he myght haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospell:

14 But without thy mynde woulde I do nothyng, that thy benefite shoulde not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.

15 For happyly he therfore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receaue hym for euer:

16 Not nowe as a seruaunt, but aboue a seruaunt, a brother beloued, specially to me: but howe much more vnto thee, both in the fleshe, and in the Lorde?

17 If thou count me therfore a felowe, receaue hym as my selfe.

18 If he haue iniuried, or oweth thee ought that lay to my charge.

19 I Paul haue written it with myne owne hande, I wyll recompence it: Albeit, I do not say to thee, howe that thou owest vnto me euen thyne owne selfe.

20 Yea brother, let me enioy this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: Comfort my bowels in the Lorde.

21 Trustyng in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowyng, that thou wilt also do more then I say.

22 Moreouer, prepare me also a lodgyng: for I trust that through your prayers, I shalbe geuen vnto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my felowe prisoner in Christe Iesus.

24 Marcus, Aristarcus, Demas, Lucas, my felowe labourers.