and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your house.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,

for as I hear of your love and loyalty to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints,

praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward Christ.

I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ's People have been cheered, brother, by you.

So although as a Christian I feel quite free to order you to do what ought to be done,

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me.

As I send him back, it's like I'm coming along with him.

It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, so that you would have him back forever,

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?

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If he has wronged you as to anything, or owes you anything, charge this to me.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

Come, brother, let me make something out of you, in a Christian sense! Cheer my heart as a Christian.

I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedient compliance, since I know that you will do even more than I ask.

At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you.

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.