Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it trouble youbut if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was free when called is Christ's slave. read more. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

For of this you can be sure, that no immoral, impure, or covetous personsuch a man is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. read more. Therefore do not be partners with them; for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Slaves, in everything obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

And pray for us as well, that God may open a door to us for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains,

Let your speech always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

and with him Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you everything that has taken place here.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, read more. and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing that is ours in Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. Therefore, though I am bold enough in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 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

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

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 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.

10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment.

10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.

I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 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;

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;

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; 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.

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. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, read more. 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.

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. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it backnot to mention that you owe me even your own self.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it backnot to mention that you owe me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope through your prayers to be granted to you.

At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope through your prayers to be granted to you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.