Philemon 1

Salutation
1	Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, ¶ Unto Phile’mon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,
2	and to our beloved Ap’phi-a, and Archip’pus Col. 4.17 our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:
3	¶ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4	¶ I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5	hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6	that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7	For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Paul Pleads for Onesimus
8	¶ Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9	yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10	I beseech thee for my son Ones’imus, Col. 4.9 whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11	which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12	whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13	whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14	but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15	¶ For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16	not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17	If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18	If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account;
19	I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20	Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21	¶ Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22	But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
Final Greetings
23	¶ There salute thee Ep’aphras, Col. 1.7 ; 4.12 my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24	Mark, Acts 12.12, 25 ; 13.13 ; 15.37-39 · Col. 4.10 Aristar’chus, Acts 19.29 ; 27.2 · Col. 4.10 Demas, Col. 4.14 · 2 Tim. 4.10 Luke, Col. 4.14 · 2 Tim. 4.11 my fellow laborers.
25	¶ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Published by The American Bible Society

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