Philemon 1:8-22 - An Appeal For Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, though I am bold enough in Christ to order you to do what is proper, ⁹ yet for love's sake I rather appeal to yousince I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus ¹⁰ 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. ¹³ I would have been glad to keep him with me, so that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; ¹⁴ but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. ¹⁵ Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it backnot to mention that you owe me even your own self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²² At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope through your prayers to be granted to you.