
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}From Paul, a 
prisoner of Christ Jesus, 
and from our brother 
Timothy to Philemon, our 
friend and fellow worker, 
{I}2_{/}to our dear 
sister Apphia, to 
Archippus faithful 
companion in our 
soldiering, and to all 
the Church gathered in 
your house.
{I}3_{/}Grace and peace 
be with you from God the 
Father and Jesus Christ 
the Lord.
{I}4_{/}I never cease to 
give thanks to my God 
when I remember you in my 
prayers, {I}5_{/}for I 
hear of your love and 
faith towards the Lord 
and all the holy ones. 
{I}6_{/}And I pray that 
the sharing of your faith 
may make known all the 
good that is ours in 
Christ. {I}7_{/}I had 
great satisfaction and 
comfort on hearing of 
your charity, because the 
hearts of the saints have 
been cheered by you, 
brother.
{I}8_{/}Because of this, 
although in Christ I have 
the freedom to command 
what you should do, 
{I}9_{/}yet I prefer to 
request you in love. The 
one talking is Paul, the 
old man, now prisoner for 
Christ. {I}10_{/}And my 
request is on behalf of 
Onesimus, whose father I 
have become while I was 
in prison.
{I}11_{/}This Onesimus 
has not been helpful to 
you, but now he will be 
helpful both to you and 
to me. {I}12_{/}In 
returning him to you, I 
am sending you my own 
heart. {I}13_{/}I would 
have liked to keep him at 
my side, to serve me on 
your behalf while I am in 
prison for the Gospel, 
{I}14_{/}but I did not 
want to do anything 
without your agreement, 
nor impose a good deed 
upon you without your 
free consent.
{I}15_{/}Perhaps Onesimus 
has been parted from you 
for a while so that you 
may have him back 
forever, {I}16_{/}no 
longer as a slave, but 
better than a slave. For 
he is a very dear brother 
to me, and he will be 
even dearer to you. 
{I}17_{/}And so, because 
of our friendship, 
receive him as if he were 
I myself. {I}18_{/}And if 
he has caused any harm, 
or owes you  anything, 
charge it to me. 
{I}19_{/}I, Paul, write 
this and sign it with my 
own hand: I will pay 
it... without further 
mention of your debt to 
me, which is you 
yourself. {I}20_{/}So, my 
brother, please do me 
this favor for the Lord's 
sake. Give me this 
comfort in Christ.
{I}21_{/}Confident of 
your obedience I write to 
you, knowing you will do 
even more than I ask. 
{I}22_{/}And one more 
thing, get a lodging 
ready for me because, 
thanks to all your 
prayers, I hope to return 
to you.
{I}23_{/}Epaphras, my 
fellow prisoner in Christ 
Jesus, sends greetings. 
{I}24_{/}So do Mark, 
Aristarchus, Demas and 
Luke, my assistants.
{I}25_{/}May the grace of 
the Lord Christ be with 
you. Amen!

