Philemon 1:8-22 - An Appeal For Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, [although I] have great confidence in Christ to order you [to do what] is proper, ⁹ instead I appeal to [you] because of love, [since I] am such a one as Paul, now an old man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ I am appealing to you concerning my child whom I became the father of during my imprisonment, Onesimus. ¹¹ Once he [was] useless to you, but now [he is] useful to you and to me, ¹² whom I have sent back to you himself, that is, my heart, ¹³ whom I wanted to keep with me, in order that he might serve me on behalf of you during my imprisonment for the gospel. ¹⁴ But apart from your consent, I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good [deed] might be not as according to necessity, but according to [your own] free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps because of this, he was separated [from you] for a time, in order that you might have him back forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ If therefore you consider me a partner, receive him as [you would] me. ¹⁸ But if in anything he has caused you loss or owes [you anything], {charge this to my account}. ¹⁹ I, Paul, write [this] with my [own] hand: I will pay it back, lest I mention to you that {you owe me even your very self besides}. ²⁰ Yes, brother, I ought to have some benefit of you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you [because I] know that you will do even beyond what I say. ²² At the same time also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.