Being fully persuaded of thy compliance, I have written to thee; knowing that thou wilt indeed do more than I ask.

and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thine house,

grace and peace be to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God always making mention of thee in my prayers,

(hearing of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and of thy love to all the saints,)

that the communication of thy faith may become effectual in the acknowledgement of all the good that is in you towards Christ Jesus:

for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because by thee, dear brother, the bowels of the saints are refreshed.

Wherefore though I have sufficient authority in Christ to enjoin thee what is meet,

I intreat thee then for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

Whom I would gladly have kept with me, that he might have ministered unto me as thou wouldst have done, in the bonds of the gospel.

who was formerly unprofitable to thee, but now profitable both to thee and to me; whom I have sent back to thee:

I would rather intreat thee out of love to me, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner too for the sake of Jesus Christ.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

him therefore, as my own bowels, do thou receive.

But I would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.

If therefore thou accountest me a friend, receive him as thou wouldst receive me.

not now as a servant, but above a servant, a dear brother, especially to me, and how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord.

For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou mightest receive him for ever:

If he hath wronged thee in any thing, or is indebted to thee, place it to my accompt:

Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke my fellow-laborers, salute thee.

Yea, my brother, let me enjoy this satisfaction from thee in the Lord: and thus refresh my bowels in the Lord.

I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will pay it: not to say that thou indeed owest even thy own self to me.

But I must add, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be restored to you.

Epaphras my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, and Marcus,

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