Were you a slave when God called you? Let not that weigh on your mind. And yet if you can get your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity. For a Christian, if he was a slave when called, is the Lord's freed man, and in the same way a free man, if called, becomes the slave of Christ. read more. You have all been redeemed at infinite cost: do not become slaves to men. Where each one stood when he was called, there, brethren, let him still stand--close to God.

The final greeting of me--Paul--with my own hand.

For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--

I, then, the prisoner for the Master's sake, entreat you to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received--

For be well assured that no fornicator or immoral person and no money-grubber--or in other words idol-worshipper--has any share awaiting him in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is on account of these very sins that God's anger is coming upon the disobedient. read more. Therefore do not become sharers with them. There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself. Live and act as sons of Light--for the effect of the Light is seen in every kind of goodness, uprightness and truth--

to spread which I am an ambassador in chains--so that when telling them I may speak out boldly as I ought.

And I am justified in having this confidence about you all, because, both during my imprisonment and when I stand up in defence of the Good News or to confirm its truth, I have you in my heart, sharers as you all are in the same grace as myself.

What does it matter, however? In any case Christ is preached--either perversely or in honest truth; and in that I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

Slaves, be obedient in everything to your earthly masters; not in acts of eye service, as aiming only to please men, but with simplicity of purpose, because you fear the Lord.

Masters, deal justly and equitably with your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in Heaven.

And pray at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door for preaching, for us to tell the truth concerning Christ for the sake of which I am even a prisoner.

Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer.

And with him I send our dear and trusty brother Onesimus, who is one of yourselves. They will inform you of everything here.

I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother: To Philemon our dearly-loved fellow labourer--

I give continual thanks to my God while making mention of you, my brother, in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have towards the Lord Jesus and which you manifest towards all God's people; read more. praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward Christ. For I have found great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of God's people have been, and are, refreshed through you, my brother. Therefore, though I might with Christ's authority speak very freely and order you to do what is fitting, it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

it is for love's sake that--instead of that--although I am none other than Paul the aged, and am now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.

I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.

I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus. Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me.

Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me.

Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you and to me. I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself.

I am sending him back to you, though in so doing I send part of myself. It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News. Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.

Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one. For perhaps it was for this reason he was parted from you for a time, that you might receive him back wholly and for ever yours; read more. no longer as a slave, but as something better than a slave--a brother peculiarly dear to me, and even dearer to you, both as a servant and as a fellow Christian.

no longer as a slave, but as something better than a slave--a brother peculiarly dear to me, and even dearer to you, both as a servant and as a fellow Christian. If therefore you regard me as a comrade, receive him as if he were I myself.

If therefore you regard me as a comrade, receive him as if he were I myself.

I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.)

I Paul write this with my own hand--I will pay you in full. (I say nothing of the fact that you owe me even your own self.) Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ. I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.

I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say. And at the same time provide accommodation for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be permitted to come to you.

And at the same time provide accommodation for me; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be permitted to come to you.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of every one of you.