Were you called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity. For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ's slave. read more. You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men. Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to God.

The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles??2 for surely you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God entrusted to me for you?

I summon you then, I the prisoner in the Lord, to live lives worthy of the calling to which you were called.

For be well assured that no one guilty of fornication or impurity or covetousness which is idolatry, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with empty arguments, for it is these vices that bring down the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience; read more. therefore do not become sharers with them. For you were once darkness, but are now in the Lord. Lead the life of children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in every kind of goodness and uprightness and truth.

and in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it boldly as I ought to speak.

It is but just that I should be thus mindful of you all, because I have you in my heart, and because in these fetters of mine and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel you are all my fellow partners in the privilege.

What of it? In any case, whether in pretence or in honest truth, Christ is still preached, and in that I am rejoicing, yes, and will rejoice.

Slaves, obey in all things your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of purpose, out of reverence for your Lord.

Masters, deal justly and fairly with your slaves, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Keep on praying for me, too, that God may open for me a door of utterance to speak the secret truth of Christ, for which I am a prisoner.

Let your speech be always gracious, with a savor of salt, and learn how to give every man a fitting answer.

They will inform you of all that goes on here.

I, Paul, add this farewell in my own handwriting. Do not forget these chains of mine. Grace be with you.

I, Paul, add this farewell in my own handwriting. Do not forget these chains of mine. Grace be with you.

To my beloved friend and coworker Philemon,

I am ever mentioning you in my prayers, and giving thanks to God, because I am hearing of your love and of the faith which you hold, not only toward the Lord Jesus Christ, but toward all the saints. read more. And I pray that your participation may become effectual, as you come to acknowledge every good thing which is in you to Christ. For I have great joy and comfort in your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed. And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting, yet for love's sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!

yet for love's sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!

yet for love's sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus! I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.

I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains. Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.

Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.

Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me. I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!

I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart! I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.

I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.

I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel. But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.

But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion. Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever, read more. no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.

I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul. Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!

Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ! Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.

Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking. Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.