Were you called while a slave? Stop letting that annoy you. Yet, if you can win your freedom, take advantage of such an opportunity. For the slave who has been called to union with the Lord is the Lord's freedman; in the same way the freeman who has been called is a slave of Christ. read more. You have been bought and actually paid for; stop becoming slaves to men. Brothers, each one must continue close to God in the very station in which he was called.

The final greeting is mine -- Paul's -- with my own hand.

This is why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the heathen --

So I, a prisoner for the Lord's sake, entreat you to live lives worthy of the call you have received,

For you may be absolutely sure that no one who is sexually impure, immoral or greedy for gain (for that is idolatry) can have a part in the kingdom of Christ and God. Stop letting anyone deceive you with groundless arguments about these things, for it is because of these very sins that God's anger comes down upon the disobedient. read more. So you must stop having anything to do with them. For at one time you were darkness itself, but now in union with the Lord you are light itself. You must live like children of light, for the product of light consists in practicing everything that is good and right and true;

for the sake of which I am an envoy in prison: so that, when I tell it, I may speak as courageously as I ought.

And I have a right to think this way about you, because I always have you in my heart, whether shut up in prison or out defending and vindicating the good news, for you are sharers with me of God's favor.

What difference then does it make? In one way or another, whether in pretense or in sincerity, Christ is being preached, and that is the thing that makes me glad; yes, more too, I will continue to be glad of it,

Slaves, practice obedience to your earthly masters in everything, not as though they were watching you and as though you were merely pleasing men, but with sincerity of heart, because you fear the Lord.

Masters, you must practice doing the right and square things by your slaves, for you know that you have a Master in heaven.

At the same time keep on praying for me too, that God may open the door of opportunity for the message, so that I may tell the open secret about Christ, for the sake of which I am held a prisoner,

Always let your conversation be seasoned with salt, that is, with winsomeness, so that you may know how to make a fitting answer to everyone.

he is accompanied by Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of your own number. They will tell you everything that is going on here.

This farewell greeting is in my own hand, from Paul. Remember that I am still a prisoner. Spiritual blessing be with you.

This farewell greeting is in my own hand, from Paul. Remember that I am still a prisoner. Spiritual blessing be with you.

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and my brother Timothy, to our dearly loved fellow-worker Philemon,

I always thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers, because I continue to hear of the love and faith you have in the Lord Jesus and all His people, read more. 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. 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. So, although through union with Christ I have full freedom to order you to do your duty, 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;

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;

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; yes, I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become while wearing these chains.

yes, I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become while wearing these chains.

yes, I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become while wearing these chains. Once he proved to be useless, but now he is useful to you and me;

Once he proved to be useless, but now he is useful to you and me;

Once he proved to be useless, but now he is useful to you and me; I am sending him back to you, which is all the same as sending my very heart.

I am sending him back to you, which is all the same as sending my very heart. 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,

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,

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, 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.

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. For perhaps it was for this reason that he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, read more. 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.

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. So, if you consider me a comrade, take him to your bosom as you would me.

So, if you consider me a comrade, take him to your bosom as you would me.

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.

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. Yes, brother, I would like some return myself from you in the Lord's work. Through Christ refresh my heart.

Yes, brother, I would like some return myself from you in the Lord's work. Through Christ refresh my heart. 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.

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. 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.

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.

The spiritual blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.