1 1From: Paul, a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus, and Timothy our brother. To: Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
2 2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
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,
10 appeal to you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.
11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful both to you and to me.
12 As I send him back, it's like I'm coming along with him.
13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel. forced, but voluntary.
14 Yet I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be something
15 15Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you could have him back forever,
16 16no longer as a slave but better than a slave as a dear brother, especially to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a believer.
17 17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
18 18If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah!
19 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. (I will not mention to you that you owe me your very life.)
20 20Yes, brother, I desire this favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Messiah!
21 21Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you because I know that you will do even more than I ask.
22 22Meanwhile, prepare a guest room for me, too, for I am hoping through your prayers to be returned to you.