If you were a slave when you were called, never mind. Even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of your present condition instead. For a slave who has been called to union with the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, just as a free man who has been called is a slave of Christ. read more. You have been bought and paid for; you must not let yourselves become slaves to men. Brothers, everyone must remain in fellowship with God in the station in which he was called.

This farewell I, Paul, add in my own hand.

This is why I, Paul, whom Jesus the Christ has made a prisoner for the sake of you heathen??2 if at least you have heard how I dealt with the mercy of God that was given me for you,

So I, the prisoner for the Lord's sake, appeal to you to live lives worthy of the summons you have received;

For you may be sure that no one who is immoral, or greedy for gain (for that is idolatry) can have any share in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Whatever anyone may say in the way of worthless arguments to deceive you, these are the things that are bringing God's anger down upon the disobedient. read more. Therefore have nothing to do with them. For once you were sheer darkness, but now, as Christians, you are light itself. You must live like children of light, for light leads to perfect goodness, uprightness, and truth;

for the sake of which I am an envoy, and in prison. Pray that, when I tell it, I may have the courage to speak as I ought.

And I have a right to feel in this way about you all, because both when I am in prison and when I am defending and vindicating our right to preach the good news, I have you in my heart as all sharing that privilege with me.

But what difference does it make? All that matters is that, in one way or another, from false motives or honest ones, Christ is being made known; I am glad of that. Yes, and I expect to be glad,

You who are slaves must always obey your earthly masters, not with mere external service, as though you had only men to please, but with sincerity of heart, because you fear the Lord.

You who are masters must treat your slaves justly and fairly, and remember that you have a Master too, in heaven.

Pray for me too, that God may give me an opening for the message, and let me tell the secret of Christ on account of which I am kept in prison

Always put your message attractively, and yet pointedly, and be prepared to give every inquirer a fitting answer.

And with him I send my dear, faithful brother Onesimus, who is one of your own number. They will tell you all about matters here.

This farewell is in my own hand, from Paul. Remember that I am in prison. God bless you.

This farewell is in my own hand, from Paul. Remember that I am in prison. God bless you.

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

I never mention you in my prayers without thanking my God for what I hear of the love and faith you have in the Lord Jesus and all his people, read more. and I pray that through coming to know every good thing about us as Christians they may effectually share your faith. I have been greatly pleased and encouraged over your love, for the hearts of God's people have been cheered, my brother, by you. So although as a Christian I feel quite free to order you to do what ought to be done, I prefer to appeal to you in the name of love, simply as what I am??aul, no less an envoy of Christ Jesus, though now a prisoner for him

I prefer to appeal to you in the name of love, simply as what I am??aul, no less an envoy of Christ Jesus, though now a prisoner for him

I prefer to appeal to you in the name of love, simply as what I am??aul, no less an envoy of Christ Jesus, though now a prisoner for him I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become here in prison.

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

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become here in prison. Once you found him useless, but now he has become useful to you and to me,

Once you found him useless, but now he has become useful to you and to me,

Once you found him useless, but now he has become useful to you and to me, and now that I send him back to you, it is like sending my very heart.

and now that I send him back to you, it is like sending my very heart. I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your place while I am in prison for the good news,

I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your place while I am in prison for the good news,

I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your place while I am in prison for the good news, but I do not wish to do anything without your consent, so that your kindness might be voluntary, and not have the appearance of compulsion.

but I do not wish to do anything without your consent, so that your kindness might be voluntary, and not have the appearance of compulsion. For perhaps this is why you and he were parted for a while, that you might have him back forever, read more. not as a slave any longer but more than a slave, a dear brother??ear especially to me, but how much dearer to you, both as a man and as a Christian!

not as a slave any longer but more than a slave, a dear brother??ear especially to me, but how much dearer to you, both as a man and as a Christian! So if you regard me as a comrade, welcome him as you would me.

So if you regard me as a comrade, welcome him as you would me.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it??ot to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides.

I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it??ot to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides. Come, brother, let me make something out of you, in a Christian sense! Cheer my heart as a Christian.

Come, brother, let me make something out of you, in a Christian sense! Cheer my heart as a Christian. I write you in full reliance upon your obedience; I know that you will do even more than I ask.

I write you in full reliance upon your obedience; I know that you will do even more than I ask. And get ready to entertain me too, for I hope that I shall be restored to you, in answer to your prayers.

And get ready to entertain me too, for I hope that I shall be restored to you, in answer to your prayers.

The blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits.