1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and my brother Timothy, to our dearly loved fellow-worker Philemon, 2 to our sister Apphia, to our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets at your house:
3 spiritual blessing be with you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I continue to hear of the love and faith you have in the Lord Jesus and all His people, 6 and I pray that their sharing of your faith may result in their recognition in us of everything that is right with reference to Christ. 7 Yes, I have felt great joy and encouragement over your love, because the hearts of God's people have been refreshed by you, my brother.
8 So, although through union with Christ I have full freedom to order you to do your duty, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you for love's sake, although I am such as I am, Paul an envoy of Christ Jesus but now a prisoner for Him too; 10 yes, I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become while wearing these chains. 11 Once he proved to be useless, but now he is useful to you and me; 12 I am sending him back to you, which is all the same as sending my very heart. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your stead while I wear these chains for the good news, 14 but I would not do a single thing about it without your consent, so that this kindness of yours to me might not seem to come by compulsion but voluntarily. 15 For perhaps it was for this reason that he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 not as a slave any longer but more than a slave, a dearly loved brother, especially to me and much more to you, both as a servant and as a Christian.
17 So, if you consider me a comrade, take him to your bosom as you would me. 18 And if he has done you any wrong and owes you anything, charge it to my account, 19 I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I will pay it in full -- not to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides. 20 Yes, brother, I would like some return myself from you in the Lord's work. Through Christ refresh my heart. 21 I write you in perfect confidence in your compliance with my wish, because I am sure that you will do even more than I ask. 22 And have a guest-room ready for me, too, for I hope that through your prayers I shall have the gracious privilege of coming to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in the cause of Christ Jesus, wishes to be remembered to you. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-workers.
25 The spiritual blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.