Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that is in you toward Christ Jesus;

For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.

Hence, although in Christ I would feel quite free to order you to do your duty,

no longer as a slave, but [as someone] more than a slave, as a brother [in Christ], especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].

If thou count me a fellow, receive him as myself.

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

I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.

Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;

and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.