Philemon 1:1-9 ▼

1 From: Paul, a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus, and Timothy our brother. To: Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.

3 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!

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

5 because I keep hearing about your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.

6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every blessing that is ours in the Messiah.

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

8 For this reason, although in the Messiah I have complete freedom to order you to do what is proper,

9 I prefer to make my appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus,